Rotherham United can financially withstand coronavirus shutdown

The pandemic has wiped out sport for the time being and sparked fears regarding sports clubs going to the wall or suffering big job losses.

All elite football in England has been called off until April 30 at the earliest in a bid to tackle the worsening outbreak of Covid-19.

Warne said: “We have had our own ‘COBRA’ meeting with the heads of all departments.

“I appreciate it’s a bad time with people losing jobs all over the place. But I have not been led to believe there will be any problem here.

“But if it is a long time and if it goes on for six, nine or ten months, it will be completely different.

“Hopefully, if we can get back to realistically playing football in June – the club is managed really well and we are fortunate we have a supportive owner – we should be able to get through.

“Hopefully, if it is over quickly, it gives clubs every chance to maintain their staff.”

Meanwhile, Warne believes that a solution will be reached between the EFL and clubs if the season is extended beyond June 30, when the contracts of many players will expire.

World governing body FIFA has established a working group to look at temporary amendments and dispensations on contracts, with standard deals expiring on that date.

Warne added: “I haven’t got many out of contract, fortunately. But if the season does go past that, it will all be done by the EFL. All the loans will be naturally extended by a month.

“I can’t see any club – either way – pulling anyone back or anything.

“I think everything will be extended and something put in place so that everyone can have an extra month put on their contracts.

“It will be a difficult year for those players who are out of contract.

“But I think all things will be assisted by the EFL and they will help us as I don’t think anyone wants problems like that. I don’t think it will be anything I need to address, but the players can knock on my door whenever.”

Highly-rated Millers defender Jake Cooper, 19, has signed a new deal until the summer of 2022.

Cooper, on loan at National League outfit Gateshead for the rest of the season, has made three appearances for the club this term in the EFL Trophy,