“It was never our intent, as custodians, to do anything other than put measures in place to protect jobs while the club sought to continue to operate in a self-sufficient manner during uncertain times.

“We regret any concern caused during an anxious time and hope the work our supporters will see us doing in the coming weeks, as our stadium takes on a whole new purpose, will make them proud of their club.”

The statement said Spurs would keep their wage policy under review should the current lockdown, which has stopped all football across Britain, continue beyond the next couple of months.

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Tottenham have also announced they are opening their stadium on White Hart Lane for use by the NHS, making it the first Premier League ground to be used as a facility for coronavirus testing.

The club said equipment has been installed to allow “drive-through COVID-19 testing and swabbing for NHS staff, families and their dependents”, and will also house the women’s outpatient services of North Middlesex Hospital, meaning pregnant women can be treated away from the hospital during the pandemic.

Source: goal.com