Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony sets the record straight over Posh wage deferrals

With football in shut down until May at the earliest, there have been plenty of stories suggesting that clubs may be forced to defer a percentage of their players' wages to help get them through a difficult financial time.

The players and management at Sky Bet Championship outfit Leeds United announced on Thursday they had 'volunteered to take a wage deferral for the foreseeable future' a move which will allow the 272 full-time non-football employees, as well as the majority of casual staff to continue to be paid at Elland Road.

In response to a journalist contacting the club's press office to ask about the players being asked to take a 50 per cent deferral, MacAnthony opened up on social media, and suggested that an agent had leaked the confidential information to the unnamed reporter.

MacAnthony insists Posh's players have not been asked to defer their wages, and that they will all be paid on time and in full this month, but he did admit they have all been sounded out about the possibility of deferring wages in the future, if this situation continues.

And he revealed the players would be '100 per cent' behind such a move, and that they all 'understood the long term health of the football club and its many employees is essential at this time'.

MacAnthony's Twitter feed, @DMAC 102, read: "Poor @philadlam (Posh press officer) approached by sports reporter about a story they want to run about our players ( being) asked to take a wage deferral.

"Not that it is an important story right now; (but) read this thread for clarity:

"Being responsible in current temporary uncertain financial climate for football clubs with little income coming in; I asked our manager to have a conversation with all of our players one by one re potential of having to defer 50% of their wages whilst football is suspended.

"They were not asked to do it now and wages as usual paid on time and in full.

"But we wanted to be ahead of curve if this is something that happens later on, are they ok with it? Remember they would get it all back once football restarts. To mine, @rstposh (Stewart Thompson) & @JasonDavidNeale (Jason Neale) delight.

"Our players were 100% fine and understood the long term health of the football club and its many employees is essential at this time.

"Our footballers care about their club and staff. Shame one of their agents probably didn't, hence the leak to a journalist."

And he went on to praise the Leeds United players, saying: Having seen what the @LUFC players have done today with wage deferments; that's footballers at their best & our players are no different if a deferment has to be brought in.

"Should we make that tough call, we will be transparent with our fans but we are not there today.

"For now, let's all follow the isolation rules, look after our elders/most vulnerable & once this virus is beaten to a pulp, our beautiful game will return & nonsense stories like this will be long forgotten."