LONDON Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes f o o t b a l l e r s should be trying to learn new skills during the g a m e ’ s coronavirus-enforced shutdown to prepare for a potential financial hit. The economic crisis caused by the indefinite suspension of matches will be felt at all levels of the sport. And Neville, who owns a stake in fourth-tier side Salford City, encouraged players to use their time wisely ahead of an expected downturn in wages and shortening in the length of contracts offered in the coming years. “If I was a football player today, I’d be online learning, doing a degree, doing a BTEC (qualification) and trying to get a dual-skill. That’s not panicking, that’s not suggesting that their careers are over, it’s just planning,” Neville told Sky Sports. “The jobs in football will be less, the money will be less, and players will need to go and do a job next year or something next year out of football. That’s a fact, it’s going to happen. “And they have to plan for that now. The smart ones will get their head around it quickly, and will go and do a different skill, look at the jobs they can do in the short-term to bring in money for their families.” The top four divisions in England are still planning to complete their seasons when strict government restrictions are lifted. However, Neville believes even the possibility of restarting soon w ith games behind closed doors is a remote one as clubs cannot put their players’ health at risk. “As a Salford City owner, I have players who potentially have diabetes, players with asthma,” he said.—APP
