THE EFL and PFA have agreed to recommend a 25 per cent pay deferral for League One and Two players this month.
Clubs are now set to decide whether or not to rubberstamp the deal as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll.
Clubs including Sunderland are being recommended the deferral by PFA boss Gordon Taylor
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However there remains no breakthrough across the Championship as second-tier clubs are instead told to find their own solutions during the suspension of all football.
A joint-statement released on Tuesday afternoon by the Football League and Professional Footballers’ Association put forward a deferral of 25 per cent for the month of April in Leagues One and Two.
The bodies also detailed the creation of a player-led panel to reach longer-term agreements for clubs put in danger by the financial crisis and sudden drop in income brought on by the pandemic.
It read: “In order to deal with the most immediate payroll issue, the EFL is recommending to clubs that local discussions are held with players in respect of the month of April only.
“A compromise proposal has been agreed between the EFL and the PFA for those clubs engaged in deferral negotiations with their players, meaning that, up to a maximum of 25 per cent of players’ wages for April may be conditionally deferred within the following limits: Players earning less than £2,500 per month will be paid in full, the 25% reduction must not take any player below £2,500 per month.
“This is a recommendation and not a directive as there are clubs who have stated no requirement to take immediate action at this time.”
There remains no overarching plan for Championship teams, some of whom are reportedly struggling to pay players’ wages due to a lack of gate revenue since last playing over five weeks ago.
The EFL and PFA insist clubs must reach their own settlement with Leeds and Birmingham confirming temporary deferrals, the former incentivised by an eventual pay increase.
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Millwall, meanwhile, have furloughed their entire squad and playing staff and certain non-playing employees at Derby, Nottingham Forest, Swansea, Reading, Cardiff and QPR have reportedly been furloughed.
Tuesday’s statement added: “The current position in respect of the Championship is that clubs last week agreed to conduct wage negotiations with players at a local level, while making financial information available to support their position.
“A number of Championship clubs have concluded agreements with players and others will be holding discussions this week.”
Premier League players are largely yet to agree a pay cut or deferral with their clubs but are joining a scheme to donate directly to the NHS en masse.
PFA chief Gordon Taylor slams UK government for singling out footballers for not taking a pay cut
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
