Daniel Levy has sparked fears over Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer strategy and the capacity of the club’s recruitment department during the coronavirus crisis by furloughing the club’s non-playing staff.

Tottenham employees found out they were being forced to take 20 per cent pay cuts just 30 minutes before chairman Levy made the news public.

All of the club’s 550 non-playing staff, including scouts and analysts, have seen their wages cut for April and May, “utilising where appropriate the Government’s furlough scheme”.

That means, as is also the case with Newcastle United, scouts and analysts who work with the recruitment team cannot respond to emails or any form of direct communication during the next two months.

Levy himself suggested that transfer planning was now on hold in his statement that said: “When I read or hear stories about player transfers this summer like nothing has happened, people need to wake up to the enormity of what is happening around us.”

Head coach Jose Mourinho had admitted he would not be able to overhaul his Tottenham squad this summer, but had hoped to make at least two significant signings to boost his squad with the defence one area already prioritised.

The Portuguese had already identified his targets and he can still hold transfer talks with Levy, and chief scout Steve Hitchen as all three men are still working for the club despite the fact Hitchen is among those who has seen his wages cut.

But Levy’s decision to close down recruitment could hand an advantage to Tottenham’s Premier League rivals, who are operating as normal and at full capacity.

Levy’s email to confirm staff wage cuts landed at 10am on Tuesday morning ahead of the 10.30am announcement. It did not raise the prospect of staff taking holiday allowance, but the suggestion has been made privately to some employees - even though they will be earning less and Government restrictions mean they cannot travel around the country or go abroad.

The timing of the move, which came only three weeks after the Premier League suspended the season, has sparked widespread criticism from inside and outside football and caused bad feelings among some members of staff.

One source told Telegraph Sport: “How can the players still be on £100,000-a-week? How can they still be taking 100 per cent of their wages while people on £30,000 a year are having to take cuts? It’s wrong.”

Another source said: “The whole thing is really uncomfortable. It puts such a big divide between the players and the rest of the staff.”

As well as missing out on matchday and non-matchday revenues while football is suspended and the country is effectively in lockdown, Levy is also facing the prospect of the postponement or cancellation of a host of summer events that were scheduled to take place at Tottenham’s stadium.

Guns ‘N Roses are due to play two dates at the end of May, while Anthony Joshua is scheduled to fight Kubrat Pulev in June and Lady Gaga has a date at the end of July.

The uncertainty now surrounding those events were referenced in a letter Spurs sent out to supporters and businessmen trying to attract new customers for Tottenham’s ‘Premium Seats’ package.

An email said: “Whilst the disruption is causing some uncertainty around the future of the football calendar, what it has done is give us a bit more time to re-engage with people like yourself who have previously shown an interest in premium experiences.”

It added: “Our premium areas offer the highest standard of dining and service, encompassing everything from informal lounges through to Michelin star calibre dining. The broad range of seasonal and matchday premium experiences we provide ensures there is something for everyone.”

Despite facing criticism over wage cuts, Levy has received a letter from the mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanking Tottenham for their efforts to help during the coronavirus outbreak.

Levy has made the £1bn stadium available to the NHS as a hospital if it is needed and the basement car park is being used as a storage base for the London Food Alliance. Tottenham doctors and medics have also been released to work in NHS hospitals.