Players at cash-strapped Sunderland Football Club are being fined £200 if they swap shirts with opposing teams.

The financial penalty is one of a range of fines facing the Black Cats' squad as the club adapts to life in Division One.

Struggling with reported debts of £37m, Sunderland have got rid of 20 players, halving the wage bill, in an attempt to ease its financial burden.

But the latest ploy for their players is a system of charges for various misdemeanours.

They include £200 for swapping a first-team shirt, £50 for using a mobile phone in the dressing room and £25 for not wearing flip-flops in the shower.

Former Sunderland captain, turned coach, Kevin Ball, pins reminders on the dressing room wall for players who forget to pay up.

Winger Matt Piper has already been hit in the pocket. He said: "Kevin is the man who looks after all of the fines. He is known as the policeman in and around the training ground.

"There have been a few hefty fines handed out recently. I had to pay £25 for not wearing flip-flops in the shower."

The fines should not only cut down on the number of shirts the club has to buy - the money will also go towards the players' Christmas night out or end-of-season party.