Barrow AFC have praised Aston Villa for the “wonderful generosity” of donating gate receipts back to the Bluebirds.

The Premier League club were due 45 per cent of the gate money from Tuesday’s Carabao Cup second round tie under competition rules.But Villa, who won the game 6-0, have decided to hand the money back to the Holker Street club.

Barrow described the gesture as “a fantastic show of class and generosity” on the part of the Villans.

Chairman Paul Hornby said: “It’s just a wonderful gesture and we’re so grateful for their generosity.

“Despite the result, it was a fantastic occasion for everyone connected with Barrow and the revenue generated from it and this subsequent donation is crucial to the club.

“All those associated with Villa conducted themselves with real class on Tuesday night so this gesture just underlines what a great club they are so we thank them and wish them well for the rest of the season.”

A crowd of 5,349, Barrow’s biggest home crowd for 30 years, were at the Dunes Hotel Stadium for the game, which was televised on Sky Sports. Villa’s Cameron Archer fired a hat-trick with further goals from Anwar El Ghazi and Frederic Guilbert completing the heavy victory for Dean Smith’s visitors.

Bluebirds boss Mark Cooper has called for the expected six-figure proceeds to be invested in infrastructure at Barrow with the manager using post-match interviews to highlight the lack of training facilities which he said was hampering his squad’s preparation.