Aston Villa refused to sanction the purchase of suits for the squad ahead of the Championship play-off final because of the club's precarious financial position, Sky Sports News understands.
Villa's bosses decided against paying a total bill of around £20,000 for suits for the showpiece event at Wembley, which Fulham won 1-0 to gain promotion back to the Premier League.
Huge investment in player wages and more than £70m in transfers in two seasons has left the club facing an HMRC winding-up order.
Villa have reached an agreement with the tax authorities to stave off the immediate threat of administration although the club faces an uncertain future.
Sky sources understand last month's £3m wage bill was only paid after Villa persuaded Burnley to bring forward a payment due as part of the £3.5m transfer of Ashley Westwood.
The reduced instalment provided the club's owner Dr Tony Xia with the funds necessary to pay the club's players and staff for May.
However, serious concerns remain whether Dr Xia will have sufficient funds in place to pay a series of bills in the next three weeks. One Villa player has told Sky Sports News he fears he won't get paid his June salary.
HMRC will request payment on the club's PAYE and National Insurance contributions on June 22, while eight days later, June's payroll is due.
Sky Sports News understands these two demands will total around £5m.
A number of interested parties have approached the club to discuss purchasing the club outright. Any potential new owner would need in excess of £100m simply to cover the contractual commitments in place at Villa Park.