Tartu football club Welco urges parliament to raise state funding for coaches' pay
Estonian club Welco has asked the parliamentary culture committee to increase state support for coaches' wages in the 2027 budget. The club says support per coach is shrinking while clubs shoulder a growing share of costs.
Tartu football club Welco on Thursday appealed to the Riigikogu's culture committee, asking it to raise state support for coaches' salaries in the 2027 budget.
The club estimates that the amount of support will again stay flat next year, even though the number of coaches eligible for the subsidy keeps growing. As a result, Welco argues, state support per coach is falling and a larger part of the costs falls on sports clubs.
Minimum pay and the state's share
In 2026, the minimum salary of a qualified coach rose from 1,400 to 1,520 euros. At the minimum rate, the state covers about 45% of a coach's pay, while roughly 55% is paid by the clubs. Welco says that if the current level of support is kept, the state's share could fall to around 40% in 2027.
The club also points to a gap with pay in the cultural sector. In 2026, the state minimum for a culture worker with a higher education is 1,720 euros, whereas the minimum salary of a qualified coach is 1,520 euros.
About the club
Together with the football school Welco Jalgpallikool Santos and the women's club Electra, Welco brings together about 1,000 children, young people and adults. About 30 coaches work across the three organisations.
In its appeal, the club proposes raising the overall amount of coach support and, going forward, linking it to the number of coaches and the actual growth in wage costs. Welco believes that otherwise clubs will have to cover the growing share themselves, which could lead to higher training fees or fewer available training places.
Welco's first team is currently the sole leader of Estonia's first-division football league, aiming for promotion to the top flight.
