Sunderland players to have wages cut by 50 per cent if they get relegated from the Premier League
SUNDERLAND players will have their wages cut by 50 per cent if they are relegated from the Premier League this season.
Boss David Moyes is under increasing pressure following a horrific start to the season that has left them stuck at the bottom of the table without a single win from their opening eight league games.
Keep up to date with ALL the Sunderland news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary by clicking HERE.
And if the Stadium of Light club fail to stay in the top flight, some of the stars will be forced into having their pay halved due to relegation clauses in their contracts.
Sunderland have been in the Premier League for 10 seasons, but are regularly relegation strugglers - and club bosses implemented the clauses to try and stop financial disarray if they drop out of the biggest money league in world football - as well as trying to spur their players to perform.
Moyes wants a squad overhaul in January to give himself and the club the best chance of avoiding the drop and to raise funds - despite signing seven players in the summer transfer window.
But even if Moyes agrees with rival clubs for his main targets, the Wearsiders' reluctance to pay big wages - as well as some players not favouring a move to the north east of England - could prove to be stumbling blocks.
related stories
Although it is still a doubt if the Sunderland boss will even get a chance to make those signings in January as his job comes under increasing scrutiny.
The Scot is not believed to be under any particular danger, but club chiefs are alarmed by the club's dreadful start to the season - with his position coming under review should they continue to lose.
Jermain Defoe said earlier this week that he believed the club had "gone backwards a little bit" since the end of last season when they avoided relegation under former England boss Sam Allardyce - while chief executive Martin Bain says the club have "lost their identity" and need to "rebuild".
And Allardyce could be set for a shock Sunderland return as the Chinese consortium planning to buy club are eyeing the ex-England boss.
Defore said: "I don't know why, I can't put a finger on it. We've not hit the levels that we reached towards the end of last season."
And yesterday Moyes agreed with his striker's assessment, saying: "Where the team finished at the end of last season to where we have started this season, yes, you'd have to say that.
"The same players were in the same position this time last season, but I do think compared to where they finished I'd say yes, because they were winning a few games and picking up some points.
"At the moment, we're not doing that."
Moyes also insisted ahead of today's match away to West Ham that he has the experience to steer Sunderland to safety.
He added: "I'm big enough, I've seen it and I know what it's like. I don't like it, but you have got to go with it. That's what you have to do, it's part of the job.
"The plan is to first of all make everybody realise that there is a long-term plan and get away from the thought that it's going to be something other than that, so we are working together to change things.
'I'm the one who has got to get the bit on the grass right."