Leeds are believed to be close to finalising a short-term rescue package designed to stave off administration.

The Premiership club have five days to find a buyer, with major creditors owed a combined �82m.

The deferral of players' wages was suggested as a way to keep the club afloat.

The PFA's deputy chief executive, Mick McGuire, and newly-appointed executive Richard Jobson spoke at length with the squad after David Batty approached them.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "We are just keeping the players fully informed and keeping them in the loop.

The players were very responsive PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor

"They were apparently excellent in their response. They want to hold the club together and they want to stay together to keep Leeds in the Premiership because they know that would be the best way for somebody to come in and save them.

"A number of options were discussed with a view to keeping the club alive and to avoid administration, with one of those options being a deferral of wages.

"The players were very responsive, which was to be expected because that's what we have encountered at other clubs in the past.

"Sometimes people do not appreciate just what players want to do for their club in terms of staying solid and together and doing it for the fans."

Leeds confirmed on Monday to the Stock Exchange they were in "continuing, constructive discussions with a number of parties."

Leighton is still working on a deal for Leeds

Former deputy plc chairman Allan Leighton seemingly remains a front-runner to step with a consortium understood to include billionaire Philip Green.

Lifelong fan Sheikh Abdularhan Bin Mubarak al-Khalifa claims to have held talks with potential investors in recent weeks and is optimistic of a solution.

The crux to Leeds' problem has been finding a buyer.

No-one is willing to put money into a club one off the bottom of the Premiership, five points adrift of safety, and staring at the reality of losing �20-25m in revenue if relegated.