Graham Potter delivers this message to Brighton players and PFA on possible wage reduction

There has been increasing pressure on Premier League players and the PFA to act decisively as the financial impact of coronvirus begins to take a grip.

Talks involving the PFA continue today over a possible mutual wage deferral by players.

Brighton announced today that their three top earners from the non-playing staff took pay reductions.

Deputy chairman and chief executive Paul Barber, technical director Dan Ashworth and head coach Potter have each taken a significant voluntary pay cut for the next three months.

Accounts for the year to 30 June 2018, showed Brighton's turnover was £139m, which was the 13th highest in the Premier League. Their wage bill was £78m - 56 per cent of their turnover. So what of the players?

"The players are aware of the situation," said Potter, speaking today on a Zoom conference call.. "I know they have made their own private charitable donations without any directions from us.

"They have done that off their own backs and I'm sure they will be willing to help the football club. It's up to them and the PFA to come to the right conclusions."

"You can understand the criticism if you like. On the flip-side the footballers and the Premier League contribute to the Treasury in an enormous way as well.

"We are in a really difficult situation with a global pandemic. We want to try and do the right thing as a collective. I'm sure that football will come to those conclusions."

Would Potter welcome a decision of player wage reduction? “It is up to them," added the head coach. "They have got to make that call themselves.

"I am my own person. I have made the decision for me, for my family, for where I sit at the football club.

“It is up to the players and the PFA and everyone else to make their own decisions.”

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