Sunderland players and staff have been placed on furlough as of today and that will be the case until August 31st.

The Black Cats saw the League One season curtailed earlier in June and, with them outside the play-off places at the cut-off point, they now face another year in the third tier.

When the new season is going to be started remains to be seen, too, and it appears as though the Black Cats are going to try and cut costs between now and then by getting their players and staff on the furlough scheme.

Ross Gregory has provided more detail here on Twitter:

The Verdict

The Black Cats are going to have to do some real cost-cutting now, with them set for another season in League One.

It sounds as though players and staff were not aware of this decision until this morning, too, and the idea that they have not had any pre-warning is one that won't sit well with many.

If the new campaign begins before the end of August, they will be brought off of the furlough scheme but, for now, a pay-cut appears to be being forced onto those at the club and it remains to be seen what sort of feeling this will generate among those connected with the Black Cats.