1 Leeds United players celebrate a Ross McCormack goal

Leeds United players have agreed to defer part of their wages for March as the takeover saga at the Championship club rumbles on.

Non-playing staff at Elland Road have received their full salaries as expected, but following a meeting with the club’s hierarchy and Professional Footballers’ Association officials on Friday morning the players have accepted part payment.

Club owners Gulf Finance House Capital and prospective owner Massimo Cellino are in dispute over who should fund the players’ wage bill after the Football League blocked the Italian’s £25million takeover bid.

Cellino, who was recently convicted of a fraud-related offence, is appealing against that decision.

The Italian businessman was found guilty of failing to pay import duty on the purchase of a yacht and fined €600,000.

Cellino, the owner of Serie A side Cagliari, has claimed that because he is appealing against the court’s verdict under Italian law, the League should treat him as innocent until proven guilty.

Current Leeds owner GFH Capital meanwhile, are understood to argue that when Cellino exchanged contracts with them to buy 75 per cent of the club’s shares in February, he agreed to meet the running costs for the following six months.