Beijing, Apr 25 (IANS): Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard FC has reached an agreement with players, coaching staffs on pay cuts to help support the club while football is on hold amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agreement took three rounds of negotiation to reach before the second division league club became the first Chinese side to agree on salary reductions, reports Xinhua news agency.

The salary reduction scheme will be adjusted according to the monthly salary standards of players and coaches, who will take pay cuts of between 10 and 50 per cent to support club cross difficult barriers from March to the official start of the new season.

Chinese Football Association has already released signals to lower division clubs on the topic of salary reduction which is encouraging clubs, players and coaches to reach agreement after equal and frank negotiation.

"The club provides us with a great professional platform. We are willing to face difficulties together with the club," Xinjiang FC's captain Erpat Mijit said.