04:05 GLOBAL
B ut behind every team ensuring everything runs smoothly, including the crucial payroll professionals. Most team sports have substitutes on the bench. Payroll departments typically have...[fill in the blank]. The Dream Team Behind the Dream Team sporting triumph stands an invisible When we watch Rory McIlroy sink a perfect putt or execute a flawless drive, we’re witnessing not just individual brilliance but the culmination of efforts from dozens of supporting professionals. His caddie, coach, physiotherapist, nutritionist, psychologist, manager and, yes, the financial team, ensure everyone gets paid correctly and on time. (I’m not forgetting the unbelievable effort his parents and all his family put in, too!) “The spotlight never shines on us,” shares one payroll manager for a
sporting club who wishes to remain anonymous. “But imagine the chaos if players’ mortgages bounced two days before a crucial match, or if tax complications left top talent facing unexpected revenue investigations during tournament season.” Real or Fiction: Picture this scenario: It’s just 48 hours before the FA Cup Final. Your club has battled through to the pinnacle of domestic football. The stadium is sold out, television deals are finalised, and millions will be watching worldwide. Then disaster strikes, your payroll manager falls seriously The FA Cup Nightmare
ill, the backup system fails, and several star players won’t receive their scheduled payments before kick-off. Would professionals really underperform or choose not to play because of a delayed payment? Probably not, but what if it were consistent? “The perception that athletes are too wealthy to care about payment issues misunderstands human psychology,” explains a financial director for a major sporting organisation. “It’s rarely about the money itself, it’s about feeling valued and being able to focus entirely on performance rather than administrative distractions.”
Would professionals really underperform or choose not to play because of a delayed payment? Probably not, but what if it were consistent?
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GLOBAL PAYROLL MAGAZINE ISSUE 11
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