Coronavirus: Ryan Giggs says offering free use of hotels to NHS staff was ‘right thing to do’

Wales boss Giggs would have been preparing his Euro 2020 approach in more normal circumstances

Wales manager Ryan Giggs has spoken of the decision taken by himself and business partner Gary Neville to offer hotels to NHS staff and says it was the right move to make.

Two hotels which the former Manchester United duo own have been closed for business, then re-opened for the free use of health workers working nearby.

The move is one of several made by football personalities to support the health industry at a difficult time.

“We took the steps of closing the hotels at a pretty early stage,” Giggs said to Sky Sports News. “The priority was the health of both the guests and our staff.

“Then we looked at the economic aspect of our businesses, making sure our staff get paid, but moving on from that we knew about the shortage of rooms for NHS staff.”

Giggs, who backed UEFA’s decision to postpone Euro 2020, says he was alerted early on to the plight of NHS workers needing nearby places to stay.

“It is the right thing to. At the moment we have got 20 NHS staff staying at one hotel and 15 at the other.

“We expect in a week, both of those hotels to be full. That is around 170 rooms.

“Of course, everything that comes with that, making sure we are safeguarding our staff with regards to the virus and also the NHS staff.

“We expect them to be with us for about 10 days. In that time, they have got a place, after working the massive hours that they do, to come and relax and get ready for work the next day.”