Preston North End will pay players and staff in FULL

Some Championship clubs have been in discussions with players and staff regarding deferring some of their pay.

A salary cap has also been a discussion point at EFL board level but is unlikely to get a high level of support.

North End pay their staff mid-month and they received their April salaries this week.

Peter Ridsdale, advisor to PNE owner Trevor Hemmings, told the Lancashire Post: “Our staff, including the players, are being paid in full.

“We see that being the case for the foreseeable future.

“That might only change if the pandemic was to continue longer than is currently predicted.”

An article in a national newspaper had suggested North End, Brentford and Wigan were close to reaching an agreement with players over deferrals.

Ridsdale says there have NOT been discussions by PNE on the subject.

With Hemmings’ backing and North End having kept wages in check compared to many Championship clubs, they are in as decent shape as can be in such circumstances to ride out the current storm.

Like any business they will have their challenges, with it being almost six weeks since they last played.

The week after the season was suspended, clubs in the EFL were advanced the remainder of their basic award.

That would normally have been spread over three payments but came as one.

For Championship clubs, that was £800,000.

An advance of part of next season’s solidarity payment from the Premier League which was due in August, has also been proposed. The EFL said last week they were minded to put those payments on hold for the time being so the money was not spent immediately and before clubs had the prospect of playing again.

EFL clubs are still working towards a proposed date of May 16 for a return to training and then a June 6 restart to the season.

That idea would see the rest of the 2019/20 regular season and play-offs finished by early July.

It is not yet set in stone and can only be done with agreement from the Government.

However, it is a target for clubs to work towards as they look to get back on their feet.

There is a meeting of the 20 Premier League clubs today in which a timetable for the completion of the top-flight will be up for discussions.

It seems likely that the EFL and Premier League would follow a similar path, so the meeting is one to keep a close eye on.