Sunderland have called in the Professional Footballers' Association in a last-ditch bid to keep the club out of administration. The Wearsiders, who are more than £30 million in debt, are struggling to pay players' wages and have called in the players' union to negotiate.
Sunderland's failure to sell top players like Kevin Phillips and Thomas Sorensen after their relegation from the Barclaycard Premiership in May has left the club desperately struggling to stay afloat.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor confirmed there have been talks with players and that the PFA is looking at getting the co-operation of players "with regards to the deferment of wages until the financial situation at the club picks up".
"It is not a question of contracts being cancelled, but there may well be some contracts cancelled and there may well be some players who stay and agree to defer some of the money".
Taylor said they had been impressed by the attitude of the players at the club who were being realistic and practical about the situation.
Sunderland have already been forced to make large-scale redundancies at the Stadium of Light, and have closed two club shops.
Filed by Neil Callanan
