Premier League clubs are set for a fresh round of talks with their WhatsApp rebels in a bid to break the pay cuts deadlock.
But, with unity among the captains of all 20 sides, the clubs fear there is little chance of agreeing the 30 per cent cut proposed at last Friday’s shareholders meeting.
Each club will now try to find a middle ground with their skippers, who are being urged to stand firm by the WhatsApp group.
While they are willing to make financial sacrifices, there are fears within their squads that the cash will end up going to the clubs rather than the charities they feel it should reach.
There is also a preference for conditional wage deferrals rather than a firm decision on cuts, given that a decision has yet to be made on finishing the season.
Players with contracts running down, in particular, are unwilling to take cuts in what is an uncertain future.
And foreign players are keen to make sizeable contributions to help the fight against the coronavirus crisis in their own countries, with France, Spain and Italy among the countries hardest hit.
Meanwhile, Professional Footballers’ Association chief Gordon Taylor has made a “very significant” contribution into the players’ charity fund – for causes such as the NHS, underprivileged kids and those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Taylor was committed to what is thought to be a £500,000 donation before renewed criticism of his insistence not to take a cut on his £2.2million salary.
PFA boss Taylor also said on Tuesday that Premier League players will "play their part" in discussions over wage cuts, despite initial discussions having hit a stumbling block.
"They've all agreed to play their part," Taylor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that players are "responsible enough" to know wages are a factor in any club's expenditure.
