Surely at the moment the normal rules can't be applied, re signing players.
Situation maybe clearer come end of May (when understand these contracts all finish), however at the moment Nix have a business with virtually zero income - presume there is still some sponsorship dollars coming in - but continuous weekly expenses, including wages. You can't just ask Welnix ownership group to keep throwing money in, without looking to trim those expenses.
If all that off contract group were let go, to cut the wages bill immediately, you couldn't really blame the owners. Who knows a few months later they may pick up some bargin replacements, if a few clubs/leagues around the world fall over, ie there is a sudden over supply of unemployed pro footballers.
There will be a lot of talks now happening between Welnix, Dome/Gill/Talay & the players. Are the players prepared to take pay cuts? Are they prepared to take bigger pay cuts, to try hold onto Hooper and/or Steinman? ie make individual sacrifices for the 'greater team good'.
Steinman & Hooper (if made offers), then need to consider what may happen in Europe when those leagues re open, and their chances of finding alternative jobs up there.
The Nix may also be looking for some Govt help. But people will point out why should govt money be used to help pay the wages of professional footballers, most of whom ain't NZ citizens.
It's a messy complicated situation, that will continue to evolve over the next few months. Ain't simply a question of who does Talay want to keep on.
