Burnley have warned they would face a £50million shortfall if it is not possible to complete the Premier League season – and claimed the deficit faced by other top-flight clubs could reach £100million.
The Clarets released the figures on the day that Premier League clubs are due to meet with players' and managers' representatives to discuss wage cuts of around 30 per cent in order to ease the financial burden caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The league has also announced a contribution of £20million to the NHS and £125million to the lower leagues.
£50 Million Shortfall If Clarets Don't Finish The Season https://t.co/XXslyDBLfJ — Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 4, 2020
The Premier League and its clubs have faced criticism as some of them opted to furlough non-playing staff while continuing to pay their highest earners, perhaps prompting Burnley to outline their own financial picture.
The Clarets said they faced a loss of matchday revenue worth £5million – money that would be lost if the league resumes behind closed doors – as well as £45million in lost broadcasting revenue.
"It's a completely unprecedented situation that we and other Premier League Clubs face and which we could not have foreseen in any way only just a few weeks ago," Burnley chairman Mike Garlick said.
"It's now not just about Burnley or any other individual club anymore, it's about the whole football ecosystem from the Premier League downwards and all the other businesses and communities that feed from that ecosystem.
The thoughts of all those at The Premier League and our clubs are with those directly affected by COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/m12qXF3gen — Premier League (@premierleague) April 3, 2020
"As a club, as fans, as staff members and as a town we are all in this together and I'm sure we can get through this by sticking together and helping each other in every way possible in these tough times."
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has backed players and managers to "do the right thing" by taking a pay cut.
"A lot of footballers, past and present, have got a huge conscience about what we do and doing the right thing," Wilder told the BBC's Football Focus programme.
"I am sure we will do the right thing through the PFA for the players, the LMA who look after the managers, the Premier League, EFL and FA, they will always do the right thing."
Tottenham, Newcastle and Norwich are clubs that decided to furlough staff before the players' proposal was announced, while Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe and Brighton counterpart Graham Potter both took voluntary wage cuts.
Our super sleuths have scoured the evidence and identified that @SpursOfficial's amazing Danny Rose is our incredibly generous mystery donor.😍Here he is saying a *huge thankyou* to NorthMid and other NHS heroes.And wash your hands, stay indoors, and help the NHS stay safe. pic.twitter.com/wFCRIgQY3T — North Mid Hospital (@NorthMidNHS) April 3, 2020
Newcastle defender Danny Rose – who has donated £19,000 to the North Middlesex University Hospital in London – said he would have "no problem" contributing a portion of his wages to those fighting the outbreak.
However Rose, on loan from Tottenham, said players felt their "backs are against the wall" after politicians joined those calling for footballers to take action.
"We sort of feel our backs are against the wall," Rose added. "Conversations were being had before people outside of football were commenting.
As football considers the next steps forward, Australia cricket coach Justin Langer backed plans for the game to resume behind closed doors once it is safe to do so.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: "When you started off playing cricket, when you were under age, there's no crowds there.
"You played it because you loved playing the game, you loved playing with your mates and you loved playing the game.
"For the love of the game, and for still being able to entertain people through TV sets or radio, then there's value in (playing behind closed doors)."
Olympic champion swimmer Adam Peaty has revealed how he has adapted his training regime due to the lockdown.
The 25-year-old, an eight-time world champion, now has an extra year to prepare for the postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo due to the pandemic.
"Swimming is one of those things where you can't really train unless you're in the water and unfortunately we're not going to be in the water for probably another three weeks, minimum," Peaty told BBC Radio Five Live.
"It's really hard for a non-swimmer to understand the connection you have with the water. They say a day out (of) the water is two days to get back so it just depends on how long the lockdown lasts and when we can get back.
"(I'm doing) gym in the house then a lot of running, a lot of cycling, but mainly just staying on top of the core.
"But I'm fully aware that people have it 10 times worse off. The Olympics is 15 months away so there' s no rush really."
