IAN Evatt has welcomed advance payments from the Premier League to the National League but said further financial support is needed during the coronavirus crisis.

A £125m fund is being paid out by the Premier League to English Football League clubs, as well as the National League, as clubs face a difficult period following the Covid-19 outbreak.

However, the money is an advance on solidarity payments, parachute payments and academy grants owed to clubs in August and is not extra funding.

The Barrow AFC boss, whose side sit four points clear at the top of National League, acknowledged clubs were struggling financially and called for more support.

Evatt said: “The money that is being given out was needed.

“But is not that much and is only an advance payment.

“It would have been coming at the end of August.”

A statement from English football’s elite league said it was aware of the severe difficulties clubs throughout the football pyramid were suffering at this time.

The statement read: “Discussions also took place regarding financial relief for clubs in the short term and while there is no single solution, measures are to be put in place to immediately deal with the impact of falling cash flow.

“Critically, the league unanimously voted to advance funds of £125m to the EFL and National League as it is aware of the severe difficulties clubs throughout the football pyramid are suffering at this time.”

Meanwhile, the Bluebirds manager said it was looking increasingly likely that the season would be played out, rather than declared null and void, in what would be a major blow for the table-topping club.

The Premier League, EFL and National League were previously put on hold, but it has now been confirmed that both leagues are indefinitely suspended until a decision is made on how to finish the season.

Evatt said: “It’s been frustrating waiting to see what happens.

“Nobody seems to be able to make a decision quickly.

“As the days go on it looks increasingly more likely that the season being declared null and void will be taken off the table.

"If that happened it would destroy our club.

"It would end up rewarding clubs who have been poor.”

There are nine games left to play in the season, including an away-day return to Evatt’s former playing club Chesterfield, where he spent two seasons, and Barrow AFC have resided at the National League summit for most of the campaign so far.