Union leaders have branded job cuts at Aston Villa “obscene” – as the club refuses to pay all its staff a living wage .

The Mail understands Villa plans to cut staff from its retail, merchandising, marketing and hospitality departments as part of a wide-ranging restructuring.

Trades Union Congress (TUC) members will campaign outside Villa’s game against Liverpool on Sunday to call for the club to commit to the Living Wage of at least £8.25 an hour .

Its Midland secretary Lee Barron said it was unacceptable, given the huge funds Premier League clubs receive, that low-paid staff were facing the exit door.

He said: “I understand there is a certain market for a professional footballer – but it is obscene to turn around to people when you are not paying the living wage, because Aston Villa refuses to pay the living wage, and say they are going to go.

Villa Park
Villa Park

“We will be back at Villa Park again on Sunday again pointing out the club is not paying the living wage and the fact they don’t have a union in there.

“They seem to be remodelling themselves to prepare for no longer being a Premier League club.

“They haven’t spoken about it publicly at all – but they really should because they need to end the uncertainty that people are facing.

“Hopefully, any job losses will be on a voluntary basis.”

While Aston Villa has refused to give details of the job losses, workers have told the Mail the latest cuts are part of a long-running restructuring.

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This comes shortly after former Midland KMPG boss Steve Hollis was brought in as chairman, but the shake-up pre-dates his appointment.

It is also not thought the cuts are directly linked to fears of relegation, with Villa currently bottom of the Premier League and odds-on to be in the Championship next season.

That will likely bring a major financial blow. Villa turned over £116.2 million last year , and would be guaranteed broadcasting income of £100 million at least in the Premier League next year, but would have just a fraction of that in the Championship.

The TUC’s plans for this weekend’s match come after a protest in November organised by pressure group, Citizens UK.

They are calling for Villa to sign up to the Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation, alike to Birmingham City Council and dozens of other employers in the city.

A spokesperson for the club declined to comment on the restructuring while the process was ongoing.