Surrey return money received through government furlough scheme

The club recorded a pre-tax profit of £5.4million in during the 2021/22 financial year as the cricket season returned to normal

Surrey have returned the money the club received from the government’s Covid-19 furlough scheme.

The government paid 80 per cent of employees' wages, up to £2,500, if they were furloughed and not coming into work because of the pandemic. That figure was reduced to 70 per cent in July 2021 and 60 per cent in August and September before being removed entirely from October.

However, after recording a pre-tax profit of £5.4million during the 2021/22 financial year – a significant recovery on the £1.2million loss recorded 12 months prior – the club decided to repay the furlough money received during the 2020/21 financial year.

The Cricketer understands the club returned £70,000.

^{An ODI between England and Sri Lanka was among the major events to return to The Oval last summer [Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images]}

Many of Surrey’s staff were taken off furlough in the middle of the summer to prepare for and deliver major events at the ground, including a one-day international between England and Sri Lanka, a Test match against India, and the Hundred – the Oval is the home stadium of Oval Invincibles – as well as the return of crowds to county matches.

Richard Thompson, Surrey’s chair, said: "Given the profit made by the club in the 2021/22 season, we felt that the contribution made by UK taxpayers to help keep us on our feet during the year should be returned to the government.

"We remain extremely grateful for the support provided by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly during the 2020/21 financial year when the ground was only able to host a total of 4,500 fans throughout the summer."