Reading FC have announced that first team players will be deferring a 'substantial' percentage of their salary for the next three months.

The gesture follows an announcement last month that a number of senior staff, including Nigel Howe, Mark Bowen and assistant manager Eddie Niedzwiecki, had volunteered to defer a percentage of their own salary.

A number of supporters have voiced their frustration in recent weeks across social media, suggesting first team players should have already agreed to a deferral.

Club captain Liam Moore has spoken out on the issue, saying that the delay was simply a case of ensuring all of the players felt '100 per cent comfortable' before signing up to the scheme.

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Moore said “I’m delighted we have come to an agreement on salary deferments.

“These are very testing times for our club at present, much like every other club up and down the country. However, with an owner like ours, who continues to support us as players and has pumped a lot of money into the club, we felt that this was the least we could do as we all try to get through the challenges that the coming weeks and months will present us with.

“It is important to mention that this has taken a little bit of time, but it was important we ensured it was right for every individual concerned. It was my job as captain to make sure each player who entered into the agreement felt 100 per cent comfortable in what they were signing up to.

“I want to say a big thank you to the PFA who have had a lot of conversations with us and have been very supportive in getting us all to where we needed to be.

"And I must also thank Nigel Howe; it’s great to have a relationship with the CEO where you can pick up the phone and ask him anything and his hard work has helped us come to an agreement that is best for this football club.

“Hopefully sooner rather than later we can be back out on the football pitch, playing for you and pushing forward together.”