Leeds look for pay cuts

Leeds United are understood to be relying on the charity of their players to avoid going into administration before the end of the season.

The club, who are £80million in debt and bottom of the Premiership, will today announce a two-week extension to their "standstill" agreement with creditors to give chief executive Trevor Birch more time to find a saviour.

But Standard Sport understands that no deal is imminent and Birch will instead turn to internal cost-cutting in a bid to find the £5m the club requires to see out the season.

His favoured option is thought to be asking Leeds' players to defer 30 per cent of their salaries which, given the club's huge wage bill, would be a major saving.

If they refuse, Leeds are ready to listen to offers for Paul Robinson, Alan Smith and Mark Viduka.