Manchester City have set up a 'crisis cabinet' to manage through the next steps following the two year exclusion from European competition punishment handed down by UEFA on Friday. One of the first actions taken was to arrange a meeting with the playing staff to clarify the position.

Man City meet with players over UEFA ban

With the Premier League club potentially facing two years away from the Champions League, much uncertainty about the future of the team, at least in the short term, has been raised. And, according to The Telegraph newspaper, Ferrán Soriano, City's executive director, organised an emergency meeting with the players through the WhatsApp group of the team, shortly after UEFA's announcement.

The players were summoned together around Saturday lunchtime and, based on the report, were informed of the details of the situation and the future of the team, most specifically, how it could directly affect them. The sanctions require a reorganisation of the club's financial accounts, it is stated, and, for example, the effects of lost revenue and potentially salary changes. This could directly influence the squad from the start of next season.

Player talks | Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne. Andrew Yates (REUTERS)

City confirmed just minutes after the ruling that they would be appealling, but it is felt that even if they are successful, whole or in part, with having the punishment revoked, one way or another the club will have to adjust its accounts to fall in line with the requirements of UEFA's financial control.

Full details of The Telegraph report here.