The General Manager of Heartland FC, Owerri, Promise Nwachukwu has revealed that the club management has ratified the placing of all players of the club on half salaries until further notice.
The decision, he revealed, was due to the club’s poor performance in the Nigeria Premier Football League this season, which culminated in their disgraceful home loss to Plateau United on Wednesday.
The Owerri side were beaten 5-1 at home for the first time in their history by a more ambitious Plateau United.
Nwachukwu, who watched the game dejectedly at the Awka City Stadium Wednesday evening, said the players should take responsibility for the loss which has tarnished the image and the impressive records of the club in the country and even beyond.
The Heartland FC manager said the players do not have excuses to fail the way they did and has directed non-performing players to step up or risk further sanctions as enshrined in the contracts they individually signed that poor performance would not be tolerated and be met with stiff measures.
“The club management has decided to slash the players’ salaries by half from now henceforth until the team’s performance improves,” Nwachukwu told the media.
“I was deeply rooted to one spot after the game yesterday and was the last to leave the stadium because I could not have envisaged the players’ poor performance against Plateau United.
“They played as if nothing was at stake and as If they were bereft of ideas.
“In all my time at the club, I have never seen a time Heartland FC played so poorly. This is beyond a coaching issue and it is high time the players took the blame for the defeat and tried to redeem their image with a win against Sunshine Stars on Sunday.
“The task to keep Heartland FC in the topflight is the job of all.
“We desire to have players who are proud to play for what the badge represents and its rich history right from Spartans to Iwuanyanwu Nationale and what we are known as now, Heartland FC,” he reiterated.
