CASH-STRAPPED Ipswich Town have asked their players to take another pay-deferral in a bid to help move the club out of administration.A series of meetings between squad members, the administrators and players' union The Professional Footballers Association, has already been held but no agreement had been reached last night.

CASH-STRAPPED Ipswich Town have asked their players to take another pay-deferral in a bid to help move the club out of administration.

A series of meetings between squad members, the administrators and players' union The Professional Footballers Association, has already been held but no agreement had been reached last night.

All parties are staying tight-lipped but I understand talks have been amicable although some players are understandably concerned.

PFA executive Mick Maguire, who has been involved in discussions with more than 30 other clubs in financial straits, has talked the players through the various options.

It is the second time this season the Blues squad has been asked to take a temporary cut in wages – the balance is due to be repaid in July.

Last September players and staff at Portman Road were asked to accept a deferral of up to 10% on a voluntary basis with all staff and a significant majority of players agreeing.

I believe around 20% has been put forward this time with all players asked to agree. The players, whose average earnings are believed to be £10,000 per week, although some senior players are on almost double that, are keen to help the club and believe they can win promotion, especially if the squad remains intact.

The administrators Deloitte & Touche, who make the final decision on every aspect of Town's financial dealings, are currently looking to gain agreement from the club's creditors to accept a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA). If they

fail then they may look at restructuring the club and that could mean the current chairman David Sheepshanks and board of directors being forced out, as outlined when the administration was revealed last week.

Sheepshanks last week made it clear in the EADT that he had no intention of quitting and nothing has changed.

He, chief executive Derek Bowden and finance director Mike Cooper have been working closely with the administrators, Nick Dargan and Nick Edwards, and it is clear no players will be sold on the cheap.

Newcastle United have made a bid for Darren Ambrose, Darren Bent and Matt Bloomfield, which has so far been rejected but nothing would stop them, or another club with Arsenal and Everton known to be interested in one or more of the youngsters, making a fresh offer, which would have to be considerably higher than the one previously lodged.