A payout tube assembly is provided for unwinding filamentary material from a wound coil of filamentary material contained in a container having a wall panel with a hole that aligns with the payout tube assembly. The payout tube assembly includes a payout tube. The assembly also includes a generally planar payout panel affixed to the payout tube. The payout panel defines a central opening through which one end of the payout tube is received. In one embodiment, the payout panel defines a first set of arcuate slits and a second set of arcuate slits extending about the axis of the payout tube, the first and second sets of arcuate slits spaced radially and circumferentially from each other. In one embodiment, the payout panel defines radial slits extending from the central opening and defining payout panel fingers that are glued to the payout tube.