Captain Adams grateful for club's support after chairman and directors vow not to cut wages

Cobblers captain Nicky Adams has thanked chairman Kelvin Thomas and the board of directors for the way they have supported players and staff during the coronavirus pandemic after the club pledged not to cut or defer anyone's wages for the foreseeable future.

With clubs feeling the financial squeeze of COVID-19, there has been talk of players deferring a percentage of their wages or even taking pay cuts in a bid to ease the pressure.

On Tuesday, the EFL and PFA issued a joint statement stating that ‘up to a maximum of 25 per cent of players’ wages for April may be conditionally deferred’ for those League One and League Two clubs ‘engaged in deferral negotiations with their players’.

But Thomas says the Cobblers will not be asking any staff - players or otherwise - to take deferrals for as long as possible, a decision that was understandably well-received by the squad.

"We held a conference call with Kelvin and all of the players on Wednesday and he let us know what was going on," said Adams. "He told us he would pay 100 per cent of our wages for as long as the club can do.

"Obviously, as the months go on, if we have to do a deferral when the time comes, we'd have to speak about that but he basically said he doesn't think that will happen and he hopes it doesn't get that far.

"He's a good man and he wants everybody to be happy. He saved the club when I was here last time and I think the fans will forever hold him in high regard for what he's done for this football club.

"He's been brilliant with us and it's the same with the gaffer. He's been on the phone and talked to a lot of fans and also to us as players to make sure we're all OK."

Should the coronavirus continue to prevent any football being played over the coming months, there may be a time when Northampton have little choice but to ask for pay deferrals to ease the financial burden.

However, Adams says that's something the players will be willing to discuss if and when the time comes.

"The EFL and PFA have had meetings and they've got to come up with solutions," he added. "We spoke about it to the chairman and he agreed with us on the majority of things we said.

"At our level, 25 per cent of wages is a lot of money to lose, but obviously it would be a deferral so we would get it back. It just depends on the club's situation further down the line.

"It's not just our club. You see some other clubs that are in trouble and I saw it first-hand at Bury last year. I don't want clubs to go out of business and I don't want fans to lose their clubs because I know what football means to people.

"I still live around the corner from Bury and fans here haven't got a club to watch. I don't want that to happen to anyone else."