Manchester City have told staff that they will not be put on the Government’s furlough scheme as the Premier League club will continue to pay their wages throughout the coronavirus crisis.

Premier League clubs such as Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been criticised for furloughing non-paying staff members despite having millionaire owners, with critics claiming that the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was not designed for clubs to cash in to look after their own interests.

Both Jamie Carragher and Dietmar Hamann hit out at Liverpool’s decision to furlough staff on Saturday, but reigning Premier League champions have confirmed that they took the decision last week not to follow that move and will continue to pay their own staff.

“We can confirm, following a decision by the chairman and board last week, that Manchester City will not be utilising the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme,” said Omar Berrada, City’s chief operating officer.

“We remain determined to protect our people, their jobs and our business whilst at the same time doing what we can to support our wider community at this most challenging time for everybody.”

On Saturday Premier League leaders Liverpool became the fifth top-flight club to announce that some non-playing staff would be stood down, with 80 per cent of their wages covered by the Government and the remaining salaries topped up by the club.

Tottenham, Newcastle, Norwich and Bournemouth had already made similar announcements.

A number of players have already donated money to various funds that are helping to fight coronavirus, while Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson held a conference call with captains of all 20 Premier League clubs. The Premier League has proposed plans for a 30 per cent pay cut across players in the top flight, while a £20m donation has been made to the National Health Service.