CHERRIES skipper Simon Francis said the Premier League’s #PlayersTogether initiative was not a “knee-jerk reaction” to health secretary Matt Hancock talking about top-flight players’ wages.

The 35-year-old was speaking after members of all Premier League clubs had come together to launch the funding project, in partnership with NHS Charities Together amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hancock praised the “big-hearted” gesture when the fund was announced on Wednesday evening, but had previously said footballers should "do their part and take a pay cut".

But Francis said the idea, explained to fellow Premier League captains by Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, showed “the power of everyone coming together”.

He told BBC Sport: “I don't want it to seem like it was a knee-jerk reaction to what has been said in the media - it wasn't that at all.

"I spoke to Jordan in the morning of the day Matt Hancock came out and made his comments, so it was bad timing.

"With the problems we have across the country, for him to pick out footballers was disappointing."

He added: "It's the power of everyone coming together.

"Jordan took the initiative to pitch the idea to the rest of the lads and it was a no-brainer for us.

"It shows so much support within the football community to show we are one.

"We don't know when that will get up and running, so in the meantime it's a great chance for players to show how much the NHS means to us - a cause that is close to a lot of players' hearts."

Francis said each top-flight side will organise their own donations as part of the initiative.

"It'll come down to talks with everybody within their own clubs - what they're comfortable with donating," he added.

"There's a lot of players that play overseas and have family overseas and they may choose to donate back to where their families are from, which is understandable and absolutely fine.

"The talks are due to take place with each club, Jordan has the fund set up, and then hopefully it'll be distributed across the country.

"It's not about who's put in more. We are not competing with the top teams, it's about helping first and foremost. We don't need it coming out in the press who has done what.”