Leeds United squad defer wages 'for the foreseeable future'

The Championship leaders - seven points clear of third with nine games to play when the season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic - say they have made the move so that all non-football staff can be paid during the sport's shutdown.

Director of football Victor Orta said that his players and head coach Marcelo Bielsa had "demonstrated an incredible sense of unity and togetherness" in making the offer, at a time when the club is losing "several millions of pounds a month".

Rovers chief executive Steve Waggott told the Lancashire Telegraph 'everything would come under consideration' when it came to the club taking a similar stance, admitting the players wouldn't be exempted.

However, Waggott stressed Rovers would honour players' contracts and that it would require discussions with the PFA and other governing bodies.

In a statement entitled 'Side Before Self, Every Time', Leeds said that while "there is a shared commitment to complete the season, there is no concrete plan for a return date" and that the current situation is "costing the club several million pounds each month".

It continued: "Following a regular catch-up between chief executive Angus Kinnear, director of football Victor Orta and several senior players, the decision was made by the squad to defer part of their own salaries to ensure that the club can continue to pay all 272 members of full-time staff and the majority of casual staff for the coming months.

"We face uncertain times and therefore it is important that we all work together to find a way that the club can push through this period and end the season in the way we all hope we can. In the meantime, let's work as one to listen to the government advice and the health service and beat this virus."

Collectively the Leeds first-team squad said: "Leeds United is a family, this is the culture that has been created by everyone at the club, from the players and the board to the staff and the supporters in the stands."