The Premier League has also announced it will advance £125million to EFL and National League clubs - while it has also been acknowledged that the season won't begin in May, with the restart date to be kept under constant review.

Captains from the 20 top-flight clubs have also discussed how best to help support and fund the NHS during the coronavirus crisis at a meeting on Friday.

Football is coming under increasing scrutiny as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to escalate, with health secretary Matt Hancock taking aim at top-flight players' supposed inaction in Thursday's daily briefing.

But discussions between Premier League players were under way days before those comments and it is reported that the captains of all 20 Premier League clubs held a meeting on Friday to discuss the situation.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson helped organise what is a collective, league-wide effort, with the players' ability to help worthy causes during the escalating situation high on the agenda.

Premier League clubs have unanimously agreed to consult with their players concerning a 30 per cent wage deferral to assist with the payment of non-playing staff during the pandemic.

"In the face of substantial and continuing losses for the 2019-20 season since the suspension of matches began, and to protect employment throughout the professional game, Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30 per cent of total annual remuneration," a statement from the Premier League read.

"This guidance will be kept under constant review as circumstances change. The league will be in regular contact with the PFA and the union will join a meeting which will be held tomorrow between the league, players and club representatives."

On the subject of the season restarting, the statement said: "It was acknowledged that the Premier League will not resume at the beginning of May - and that the 2019-20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

"The restart date is under constant review with all stakeholders, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic develops and we work together through this very challenging time."

Meanwhile, Significant progress has been made by managers and coaches in negotiating pay cuts and wage deferrals in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the League Managers' Association has said.

The LMA has been part of ongoing talks on salary issues alongside the Professional Footballers' Association, the Premier League and the English Football League.

While there remains the prospect of some form of collective agreement being reached, the LMA has highlighted the "proactive" behaviour of its members, such as Bournemouth and Brighton bosses Eddie Howe and Graham Potter who have agreed to temporary pay cuts.

An LMA statement read: "Across our membership there has been significant progress, on a club by club basis, in negotiating individual contractual and salary arrangements with managers, including furloughs, cuts and deferrals.

"Through their proactive approach and by the numerous instances of managers engaging in local, national and international community and charity initiatives, our members continue to demonstrate their commitment to their clubs and to their communities as a whole."