Sheffield United stars set for further pay talks

Billy Sharp took part in a teleconference between the competition’s ruling body and the captains of the country’s leading 20 clubs over the weekend, with officials from the PL’s headquarters in London understood to have made a presentation urging them to forgo or defer a slice of their salaries until the fixture calendar resumes.

But the meeting, which is also believed to have been viewed by representatives of the Professional Footballers’ Association, ended without agreement being reached.

Indeed, after considering the issues raised, the PFA responded by issuing a strongly worded statement arguing that the measures being proposed by the PL threaten to damage the NHS because they would deny the Government an estimated £200m in tax revenues.

Concerns have also been expressed by some PFA members that the PL is trying to bypass it by appealing directly to individual players rather than liaise with them via its own appointed delegates.

Doncaster-born defender Danny Rose, who is on loan at Newcastle from Tottenham Hotspur, has insisted players are mindful of the financial situation facing the game during the shutdown; reminding a fund, which would enable them to make contributions towards health care workers, is being arranged by Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson.

But with politicians adding their voices to calls for players to volunteer for a wage cut or deferral, he said: "We sort of feel that our backs are against the wall. Conversations were being had before people outside of football were commenting.

"I've been on the phone to Jordan Henderson and he's working so hard to come up with something.

"It was just not needed for people who are not involved in football to tell footballers what they should do with their money. I found that so bizarre."

United were seventh in the table before all matches were postponed, and preparing for an FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.