THE concerned father of a teenager employed by Burnley FC has expressed his shock and outrage that the club does not intend to pay or furlough staff on zero hours contracts.

As recently as April the club announced it would not be furloughing staff but would instead be continuing to pay them as normal.

However, the club has now told staff that from June 1, while some staff members would be placed on the government-backed scheme, others on zero hours contract would simply have to go without pay and wait to be re-employed when matches eventually restart.

Lee Graves, father of 18-year-old Lewis, who was dismayed to receive the news earlier this week, said: “I just don’t understand it – I just can’t get my head around why they wouldn’t use the furlough scheme for all staff.

“It beggars belief from a Premier League club.”

He added: “What they’re doing is dumping people, saying your not going to have any money coming in.”

Mr Graves also said the decision was particularly unjust given the amount of time his teenage son spent doing charity work with the club.

He added that Lewis, who has worked long shifts on many occasions stretching into the early hours of the morning, was a devoted Burnley FC supporter who has relished the opportunity to work for the club

Mr Graves said: “He’s a keen Burnley fan and he’s always wanting to get to any games he can.

“They’re a well-run club financially but this is a ridiculous decision”

The Clarets attracted a great deal of positive publicity when in April club chairman Mike Garlick announced they would continue to pay all staff from the club’s own coffers.

However, he admitted that this situation may change.

At the time he said: “Now, if we got to say July and the season hadn’t restarted and the next season isn’t looking as if it is going to start, that is a different position and we might have to revisit it then.

“But at the moment we are going to be funding that ourselves and are not going to be furloughing.”

The club’s new policy, however, will see various non-playing and coaching staff who are currently employed on zero-hour contracts simply not employed again until normal matches resume.

Burnley FC have been approached but declined to comment specifically on Lewis Graves’ case.