Manchester City are continuing to await the outcome of their appeal after being found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
The club could face a range of sanctions, with financial penalties among the possibilities and relegation representing the most severe sporting consequence.
Any relegation would have major financial implications for City, particularly if the club were forced to operate outside the Premier League.
The position of the players, however, would be different.
According to BBC journalist Sami Mokbel, City will not require their players to accept reductions to their salaries if the club are relegated.
That would mean their contractual wages remain protected regardless of which division City ultimately compete in.
The report covers the possibility of City falling as far as the fourth tier of English football, with the club's obligations to its players remaining in place even under that scenario.
The issue is particularly significant given the size of City's squad and the financial commitments attached to a number of their senior players.
A relegation would naturally transform the club's financial situation, with Premier League television income and commercial revenues affected by a move down the pyramid.
The players, however, would not be expected to absorb that financial impact through mandatory wage reductions.
City have appealed against the findings and continue to await the next stage of the legal process.
Until the appeal is resolved, the possibility of a severe sporting punishment remains only a potential consequence rather than an immediate reality.
The club's current squad can therefore continue preparing for matches without knowing whether its long-term financial structure will eventually have to accommodate a lower division.
For City's players, the reported position provides some certainty amid the wider uncertainty surrounding the club.
Even in the event of relegation, their salaries would remain guaranteed under their existing agreements.