Personally, I don't think there is much truth in this. Mostly because players are under contract, and contractual payments cannot just be reduced by the owner if he feels like it.
However, if it does turn out to be true, then it is bad news for Villa because it will be a sure sign that the club is going in the wrong direction.
I cannot imagine the likes of Bent and the in-form Bannan wanting to take a pay cut, to name just two. It will be nothing more than a way of showing our best players where the door is.
As mentioned above, I believe this to be nothing more than speculation and cannot realistically be enforced. It is to be hoped though that it not even being discussed, because even rumours of such actions would send the wrong message to everyone throughout the league.
If Randy is short on money, punishing the players that keep the club running is not the way of putting it right.
It is time for Randy to come out of hiding and clarify some of these rumours.