Elgin City’s staff are now on furlough after the Black and Whites players agreed to sacrifice 20% of their wages until June.
The League 2 club have activated the government’s job retention scheme, which allows businesses to claim 80% of an employee’s wage up to a monthly cap of £2,500 if they are placed on leave until the end of May.
City’s players and staff are now on furlough until the end of May, leaving only one member of staff – company secretary Keiran Carty – still actively working.
City had initially proposed 67% cuts for all staff prior to the job retention scheme, which prompted PFA Scotland to demand the Moray outfit made up the remaining 20% of salaries from the furlough scheme.
Tatters says the players have reneged on the PFA’s demand, having acknowledged the club’s cashflow concerns during the coronavirus shutdown.
Tatters said: “The government scheme gives the players 80% of their wage. Because we had offered the players a third of their wages, the PFA were of the opinion we should have paid the extra 20%.
“The circumstances have changed though. I think the players have all realised it’s all well and good hanging out for 20% extra, but they wouldn’t have a job to go back to.
“We believe the players took it upon themselves to say they are going to take it, because they are concerned the club might not survive.
“I can sympathise with them all but with the way things were going in the country, and around the world, to get 80% of your wage is better than nothing.”
Tatters was frustrated by PFA Scotland’s stance amidst the club’s struggles, adding: “We have been competing with the instructions the players have been getting from PFA Scotland, and it has really been quite disappointing.
“The PFA should have thought of the big picture. I can understand totally why they are trying to represent their members and do the best for them, but the best for them would surely have been to make sure they have a job when this all ends.
“It’s no fun out there – we are really struggling with nothing coming in.”
Although Tatters says the scheme is a boost, he is hopeful it will be extended longer given his expectation no football will be played until at least Autumn.
Tatters said: “We can start planning for everything else now but it’s only until the end of May. We are hoping the government will continue the scheme otherwise we will be right back to where we were on March 20.
“There seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel and we are in a situation where I think we will survive.”