It is a 'myth' that Premier League clubs have lots of cash.
That is according to Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Paul Barber, who was asked whether Premier League clubs should be using the government's furlough scheme.
Newcastle United announced earlier this week that it had furloughed its non-playing staff in order to 'safeguard' the club's future.
Staff were pointed in the direction of the government's coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which gives workers 80% of their wages back up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.
The Magpies were the first Premier League club to take the step and they have been followed by Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City - although the Canaries have pledged to top up the 20% of income its staff would be missing out on.
It was a decision that was met with criticism from some quarters given the money Premier League clubs generate.
But Barber says it is a myth to believe Premier League clubs have lots of cash in reserve and outlined the struggles facing football clubs in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
"I think one of the biggest problems at the moment is that all football clubs are suffering," Barber told BBC Radio 5Live.
"Income has literally stopped overnight but the costs we have got continue to roll on.
"At the moment I think the football industry, like every other industry in the country, is doing all that it can to save as many jobs as possible, to ensure that people's income continues and to continue to support the community wherever they can.
"It is a very difficult time for everybody and I fully understand why people think the football industry, and particularly the Premier League, has got a lot of cash, but in many cases that is not the case. It is a bit of a myth.
"What we have to do is protect the jobs, we are doing whatever we can to do that and I think that is a priority for just about every industry in the country, not just ours."
