Portsmouth chief executive's promise as Leeds, Birmingham and MK Dons feel financial heat of crisis

The Blues are continuing to pay all staff in full after the club went into ‘hibernation’ mode in the face of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Football is facing up to the huge operational difficulties posed by the game being suspended in an effort to slow the virus' spread.

In recent days Birmingham and Leeds have both asked their players to defer their wages, while MK Dons have placed their non-playing staff on furlough leave.

Chief executive Mark Catlin explained the club's robust financial health means their position is unchanged.

He said: ‘In one of the first meetings we had with staff following board discussions, even pre furlough, was we were committed to preserving our staff’s salaries in full for as long as possible.

‘All of our staff currently are working from home. Everything is shut down and they are being paid in full.

‘Like every business inside and out of football we’re currently examining all the schemes that are there to assist businesses through this period.

‘If you look back at our financial performances since we came out of administration operationally, we’ve made a small loss or a small profit every year - and most years it’s been a small profit.

‘Because we’ve ran the business well, we find ourselves in a strong position.’

Catlin explained with the club effectively shut down, plans are now being put in place to ensure they can return in a strong position when the opportunity presents itself.

He added: ‘We’re all in contact by phone, email and video call.

‘A lot of my time at the moment is spent with the accounts and HR teams.

‘Making sure everything is okay from a HR point of view is a priority, and with accounts there’s contingencies in regards of our own position and how this will pan out over the next one, three or six months.

‘Behind the scenes (commercial director) Anna Mitchell and her team are getting things ready for when we do come out of this the other side.

‘Effectively the club is in a hibernation mode while keeping an eye on what happens when we come out the other side of this.’