With the Premier League and players at war over the financial impact of the coronavirus crisis, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has called on coaches and stars to accept pay cuts.
Levy says in a statement on Spurs’ website: “We have seen some of the biggest clubs in the world such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus take steps to reduce their costs. “We hope the discussions between the Premier League, PFA [Professional Footballers’ Association] and LMA [League Managers’ Association] will result in players and coaches doing their bit for the football ecosystem.” Clubs are in a stand-off over wages with their players, whose agents and union are advising them not to agree any deferrals or cuts ahead of today’s crucial meeting the league’s topflight executives. Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe became the first Prem figure to take a voluntary pay cut on Wednesday as the club furloughed 50 members of non-playing staff. But others are resisting pressure to sacrifice wages, with the backing of the PFA.