Wages deferment would be final option at Leeds: PFA

Leeds players will only offer to defer their wages once all other avenues of raising money have been exhausted by the cash-stricken club.

Professional Footballers’ Association deputy chief executive Mick McGuire maintained no agreement had yet been taken despite a meeting between the union, the players and the club’s acting chairman Trevor Birch yesterday.

Leeds, £82m (€119m) in debt, have until Monday to find the funds to prevent the club falling into the hands of administrators.

McGuire said: “The players are offering some form of financial support should it be required, when all other avenues have been explored.

“There is potential for deferment of a proportion of their wages, but nothing has been agreed at this point.

“It is a constantly changing situation, we will keep monitoring it and when we know exactly what the club may need to make up the shortfall, then a decision will be made.

“The players are very mindful of the need to stay in the Premiership as that would stabilise the club.”

McGuire stressed there was no possibility of the players agreeing to a wage cut. “Players’ contracts are sacrosanct,” he added.

Birch has also managed to agree the possibility of a further two-week extension up to February 6, however, that will only be allowed on certain financial conditions being met.

He wants the players to defer 30% of their wages until the end of the season to provide Leeds with the £5m (€7.2m) needed to see them through the next four months.

Meanwhile, it is highly unlikely that striker Alan Smith will be sold to Newcastle.

The Magpies had offered £3m (€4.3m), but had their approach rejected last week and though reports yesterday claimed Leeds were poised to sell the England striker, it is understood that the club will hang on to him.

Club sources indicate Birch does not believe it makes financial sense to sell any players for a knockdown price, and that if any player is to be to sold it would be Mark Viduka whose £65,000 (€94,000) weekly salary is a tremendous burden on the budget – but his wages and price tag are also the reason why buyers may be put off.