Newcastle United are the first Premier League club to put all non-first-team staff in furlough as they try to adjust to the financial squeeze caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Staff are understood to have been informed in an email on Monday morning, sent by managing director Lee Charnley, that the decision needed to be taken and they would be forced to take a pay cut. Newcastle will now pay just 80 per cent of their wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month, which they are able to claim back from the government under the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme.

This applies to all academy and scouting staff, as well as those working for the club’s foundation charity, but does not include anyone working with the first team or players.

The email said the decision had to be taken to safeguard’s the club future, pointing out that with no date set for football’s return, the business was struggling to cope with the loss of gate receipt income.

Several other Premier League clubs are expected to make similar announcements in the coming days with many worried about the increasingly dire financial impact caused by the public health crisis.

Although there is a desire to ensure this season is finished, Telegraph Sport understands several Premier League managers are concerned about the health risks if they are forced to resume team training in the middle of the pandemic.

The majority of clubs are currently planning to return to training in the middle of April, but there is no guarantee this will be allowed by the government.

Some managers have also privately admitted they do not support the idea of isolating players and staff in a hotel for months so that the risk of infection is minimal because of the strain it will put on players separated from their families.

However, they also know they will have no option but to obey the instructions if that is what the Premier League decide to do, with owners unlikely to share their misgivings.