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Talks over the prospect of Everton's board taking pay reductions to help the club through the coronavirus crisis have taken place.

And it is thought that such a move could help in talks with the squad over the possibility of player wage cuts or deferrals.

After discussions between the Premier League and Professional Footballers' Association about a league-wide decision on player pay reductions ended in stalemate it was decided that each club must reach an agreement with their teams.

Blues captain Seamus Coleman, who represented the club on Saturday's video call with the 19 other top flight skippers, PFA and Premier League, has impressed senior Goodison figures with the way he is dealing with his position as intermediary between Everton and the squad.

It is believed he is supportive of calls for a pay cut and is in regular dialogue with his team-mates as they hope to reach an agreement on how they can help the club through a financially uncertain time.

And the possibility of Everton's senior figures taking a wage cut - which may then also include manager Carlo Ancelotti - could help in negotiations with players, has been discussed.

Manchester City's executives, it has been reported, have agreed to take a pay cut to help the club through this period without games while it is also said their players are also advocating a reduction in their wages.

The threat of a lasting financial impact from the coronavirus is real with the Premier League saying its clubs stand to lose around £1bn if this season is not finished, as broadcast money is paid back, sponsorship deals are compromised and gate receipts stop coming in.

Burnley chairman Mike Garlick said that should the campaign not finish, and if the start of the 2020-21 campaign remains uncertain, then the Turf Moor club could run out of money in August.

The Premier League, and the Football Association, are committed to finishing the season but neither organisation have been able to offer any guarantees with so much uncertainty surrounding the grip of Covid-19 on the country.

FA chairman Greg Clarke said today that everyone involved in the game, players included, needed to “share the pain” in order to ensure clubs and leagues, up and down the pyramid, are not lost.

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Clarke also confirmed the FA are drawing up contingency plans in case the season cannot be finished.

And clubs are also having the brace themselves for the worst case scenario and are in talks with players about wage cuts or deferrals after talks over a league-wide decision reached an impasse.

Everton's wage to turnover ratio, as per the last set of accounts and pro rata, is at 79% with the club determined to bring that figure down to more in line with their rivals.

The accounts also showed that for a 13-month accounting period, staff wages were £160m, for a period in which the club posted a record £112m loss.

Matchday revenue made up less than 10% of Everton's turnover but broadcast revenue accounted for £132m of the £187m the club earned in the last set of accounts.

The club also secured the seventh highest broadcast distribution in the division which equated to 71% of club turnover and prior to the suspension of football, the Blues had at least three of their final nine league games scheduled for live broadcast.

Coleman's work in talking with the Premier League, the PFA and his team-mates has been praised by the club's hierarchy and the hope is that an agreement can be reached.

FIFA have tonight said they would mediate if a club and its players were unable to strike a deal.

Everton have no immediate plans to utilise the government's furlough scheme and have committed to paying all of their casual matchday and non-matchday staff as normal.

And where a pay cut at boardroom level would help with cash flow issues while games remain on hold, the long-term impact of the pandemic could be felt for the next five years, according to some sources, with the players' help vital.

The Premier League's chief executive Richard Masters has today written to MP Julian Knight and said: “Not only is our industry facing losses now but to be realistic we must also base our losses on full recovery being some distance away.”