Many of Birmingham’s players have agreed to defer up to 50 per cent of their wages from next month to help ensure all of the club’s non-footballing staff will be paid in full amid the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Sportsmail has been told that while Pep Clotet’s first-team squad will be paid in full this month, the majority have accepted a deferral for four months starting in April, with the money to be repaid in four instalments when football resumes later in the year.

Birmingham became the first Championship club to formally ask players to defer part of their wages on Tuesday.

Many of Birmingham’s players have agreed to defer up to 50% of their wages from next month

Pep Clotet's first-team squad will still be paid in full from this month but will defer from April

This is in common with many of their rivals, who anticipate having cash-flow problems if the current shutdown continues into the summer. Many others in the second tier expected to follow suit.

All players currently paid more than £6,000-a-week at St Andrews have been asked to accept a revised amount of 50 per cent of their salary above that amount.

As a result the club’s administrative and back-room staff will continue to be paid in full.

The Professional Footballers Association are so far opposing such measures on the ground that many players in the lower divisions will struggle to pay their bills without receiving their full salaries.

Players paid more than £6,000 will receive 50 per cent of their salary above that figure

But they may be forced to alter their position in order to prevent clubs going bust the longer the crisis continues.

The PFA are understood to have contacted many of their members over the last 24 hours warning them that clubs are seeking to defer or cut wages.

They have also offered them advice on their legal position, which enables to leave on a free transfer if they are not paid for two weeks.