The English Football League and the Professional Footballers’ Association have recommended a 25% wage deferral for top earners this month.

It’s an attempt to reduce wage demands on clubs like Gillingham during the coronavirus lockdown.

The EFL the PFA propose that players in League 1 and 2 earning over £2,500 a month should defer a quarter of their pay, for this month only.

Players earning less would be paid in full and any deductions shouldn’t take a wage below the £2,500 amount.

A joint statement from the EFL and PFA said: “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% of players’ wages for April may be conditionally deferred.”

The statement adds that is is a “recommendation and not a directive.”

It has also been agreed that the EFL and PFA will form a working group of six club captains/PFA delegates from League 1 and 2, supported by a representative nominated by the PFA, to engage in dialogue in respect of players’ wages.

The statement continues: “While the working group will not be a formal negotiating body, it will help to ensure that players are fully informed as they continue to hold discussions with individual Clubs.”

“Dialogue with the working group will enable the League both to listen to the concerns of players and to explain the extent of the financial challenges. It will focus not just on the short term (May and June) but will address the medium-term position from the start of July onwards and into next season.”

The Football League season coud resume in June, behind closed doors, with teams back training by the middle of May.

Gills chairman Paul Scally has already spoken of the club’s precarious financial position with their income streams stopped. Any monies being handed to EFL clubs from the Premier League are funds which clubs would have been entitled to anyway later in the season, only moving the problems further down the road.

Some clubs in League 1 have furloughed playing staff, using the government’s emergency pay scheme to help with salaries. Sunderland and Southend are among those to have gone down that route.

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