Quote: DAVE@CAS1990 "I don't think anyne would be playing RL if the wages were any lower.
I started work at 18 so will probably work 45 years, currently on around 20k.
If I were a RL player, I'd have to earn 60k in my 15 year (max) career to equal that - and that's assuming my wages will stay the same for the next 40 years.
I honestly was shocked to find that scholarship players at clubs get absolutely nothing - not even travel expenses. Their "earnings" during that time is their training. And even their first contract at 17/18 is only in line with what they'd earn in a day job.
I agree that player's wages are THE drain on the club's finances, but pay players any less and it won't be financially viable to be a professional RL player, and we will go back to part time.
Catch 22 really.
If I were a businessman then I'd suggest alternative methods of generating/saving money. But I aren't, so I can't.'"
Not that I begrudge the wages that players earned, but it's not like they can't work beyond their playing careers. Most used to double up with work in any case. The only argument against the current trend is that at 32 and with no other training or experience it can be tough to find a new path that pays well.
A lot of players seem to have awoken to this now and are finding ways to make the transition to civy street in readiness.