Fans will remember the players who stayed loyal

This is a time when you have to try to find some positives somewhere, and as the clubs continue to attempt to re-sign players for the remainder of this season, maybe loyalty can be one of the plus points to emerge.

- COLIN BOAG

Some clubs have finished the miserable task of agreeing to pay cuts, and a few have even announced the shape and size of their squads, while others are clearly still struggling with it.

It’s easy to be critical of players who are trying to maximise their earnings, but while all of the usual caveats about short careers, and only being one bad step away from serious injury, apply, that shouldn’t stop us!

For supporters of the Premiership clubs, the way that players have reacted to the crisis has been fascinating. I’m sure that no player ever thought they’d be asked to take a sizeable pay cut, but then again, not too many out there in the real world thought at the start of this year that they’d be furloughed, or even worse, lose their job.

When the clubs had to impose pay cuts, effectively it gave players the chance to opt-out of their contracts and find a new club. Plenty chose to go along with the unpalatable reduction in their salary, and demonstrate their loyalty, but some walked away.