Premier League footballers are coming under increasing pressure to accept a wage cut after being accused by leading politicians of operating in a “moral vacuum” during the coronavirus crisis.

That pressure increased last night with the news that Eddie Howe, the Bournemouth manager, had taken a “significant voluntary” reduction in pay in a bid to help his club. It is understood that the move was initiated by Howe and three senior club figures who have also agreed to a wage cut.

The focus, nevertheless, remains on the footballers given that Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Norwich City and now Bournemouth have announced their intention to use the government furlough scheme to meet the pay demands of non-playing staff without first asking their first-team superstars