Chris Coleman has admitted that many Sunderland players will avoid another pay cut if the club are relegated to League One, which looks inevitable now.

The Black Cats are six points from safety with just four games to play, although they do face a trip to Reading this weekend that they will consider winnable.

Yet, most fans will have accepted that a second successive relegation is highly likely, which will seriously impact the club financially.

And, Coleman has revealed that unlike in the top-flight where a pay cut is written into virtually all contracts, the same thing won't happen to all players now.

The Sunderland Echo revealed that any player who signed for the club this year would face a drop, however, any on existing contracts from the Premier League won't take a cut, with Coleman confirming that.

"Some of the boys that signed those contracts in the Premier League, in fairness to the club and whoever was here I don’t think anybody could have envisaged us being here, three or four years down the line."

"Hence why, in some of the contracts, there is nothing written in there because I don’t think anybody really saw that happening."

"Some of the guys who signed later on, there are stipulations for contract change."

The Verdict

This is not great news for Sunderland and whilst nobody would have predicted a double relegation, those in charge of the finances should be planning for the worst case scenario.

However, it's understandable why they didn't and Sunderland will be desperate to shift those players who joined in the Premier League to balance the books.

One issue now though is that clubs will know how desperate the Black Cats are to sell.

Thoughts, Sunderland fans? Let us know in the comments below.