Coventry City players agree 25% wage deferral

Players at Coventry City have “unanimously agreed” to take a 25% wage deferral.

In a statement on the club’s website, the players say they have held discussions on what is “the best way of helping to safeguard Coventry City Football Club in the immediate future amid the Coronavirus pandemic”.

Coventry said that the deferral is “for the foreseeable future.”

The statement from the players said: “By doing this we feel that we are playing our part in what is an extremely testing time for everyone.

“We wish to help the club overcome some short term financial difficulties that the majority of teams at this level are facing.

“The players appreciate that circumstances surrounding this season have been testing for many Coventry City supporters, and we would like to thank them for their continued support.

“During these extremely difficult times we would like to relay our best intentions, through this deferral,  to assist the football club to come out of this horrendous situation in a stronger, united position.”

The move follows a proposal by the English Football League and Professional Footballers’ Association to defer parts of salaries.

Earlier this week, Aston Villa’s first-team players, coaches and senior management said they will defer 25% of their salaries for four months to ease the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Non-playing staff will be retained and paid in full during the lockdown and the Premier League club said it will not make use of the government furlough scheme.