Rose: Players' 'backs are against the wall' over salary cuts

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On-loan Newcastle United left-back Danny Rose is happy to take a pay cut to ease the financial burden of the coronavirus pandemic, but he believes players have been undermined during salary discussions.

Well-paid Premier League stars are facing criticism over their belated response to the global crisis while non-playing staff at some clubs have been forced to take a temporary leave. But Rose, who has over a year left on his Tottenham Hotspur contract, insists top-flight players were devising ways to help out before it became a popular debate topic.

"We sort of feel that our backs are against the wall. Conversations were being had before people outside of football were commenting," Rose said on BBC Radio 5 Live. "I've been on the phone to Jordan Henderson and he's working so hard to come up with something.

"It was just not needed for people who are not involved in football to tell footballers what they should do with their money. I found that so bizarre."

The Premier League revealed on Friday that its clubs have agreed to consult players about taking a 30% wage drop.

Footballers in England have been reaching out. Two weeks ago, Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha offered free accommodation to medical staff at many of his London-based properties. Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Arsenal's Hector Bellerin, Crystal Palace's Andros Townsend, Bournemouth's Callum Wilson, and Chelsea's Reece James launched an initiative called #FootballUnited last week, which aims to raise £100,000 to help communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The general public effectively pay our wages," Townsend said of the sport's responsibility to help out during crises.

Rose says the whole Premier League footballing fraternity are behind Townsend's sentiments.

"We're all keen to make something happen," he said. "I can only speak for myself but I would have no problems whatsoever contributing any of my wages to people who are fighting this on the front line and to people who have been affected by what's happening at the minute."

There are over 42,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the United Kingdom, with 4,313 fatalities.