Wigan Athletic seven involved in 'serious problem brewing'

Anthony Pilkington is one of seven Latics players out of contract this summer | jpimedia

Gary Neville fears there is a “serious problem brewing” for players in the English Football League coming towards the end of their contracts.

Neville fears that the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic is such that players whose current deals finish at the end of June will struggle to find new clubs.

Wigan Athletic have seven senior first-team squad members in this situation – Chey Dunkley, Michael Jacobs, Joe Garner, Anthony Pilkington, Gary Roberts, Danny Fox and Lewis Macleod.

“There is a serious problem brewing in the next few months,” Neville told Sky Sports News’ Football Show.

“Over 1,000 players in the Championship, League One and League Two are out of contract at the end of June and clubs haven’t got the money to recycle them back into the game.

“It’s going to be a shock for the whole of football, but it will be the players at the lower end of the game who will suffer the most.”

The EFL and the Professional Footballers’ Association announced on Tuesday a proposal that League One and League Two clubs defer up to 25 per cent of player wages in April, with players earning less than £2500 a month still being paid in full.

Championship clubs are expected to make individual decisions on wage deferrals.

“In the next few months there will have to be player cost reductions. It is an absolute given, “ insisted Neville.

“What the EFL announced on Tuesday was the right approach.”