Workington Reds, along with other Blue Square Bet North clubs, will receive a £7,500 cash windfall this season.

It’s part of a £6million package from the Premier League and the money will be paid each year until 2013.

Clubs in the Blue Square Bet Premier will collect £35,000 each year with members of the North and South Divisions set to pick-up £7,500.

There will also be an £800,000 development fund available to all 68 clubs to help finance youth and community projects.

The new package will ease the financial pain experienced after the collapse of the Setanta deal in 2009 when the top flight clubs were receiving £70,000 and clubs in North and South a further £15,000 each.

Conference chairman Brian Lee (pictured) said: “We’ve been negotiating with them quietly and I’m delighted at the outcome. They’ve done it once and thought it was worthwhile.

“To do it again for three years is wonderful news, you really can’t describe it as anything less. It’s a wonderful gesture of friendship and we accept with gratitude.

“Above all, this money will enable clubs to plan. They know the money is coming for three years and that takes some of the nervousness away.”

The final allocation will be decided at a Conference meeting on August 5, although the initial indications are that 70% will go to the top flight clubs with the remaining 30% split between the north and south divisions.

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