National League clubs will get free Covid tests after voting to continue their season

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The £5.4million grant to the non-league setup will cover the top two tiers
The National League North and South had declared their season null and void
Women's Super League and Championship clubs will receive free Covid tests
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says women's sport wont take a 'back seat'
Sport survival package is worth £300m - £50m in grants and £250m in loans

Published: 18:36 EST, 19 February 2021 | Updated: 19:06 EST, 19 February 2021

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The Government will start providing free coronavirus tests for National League clubs after they voted to continue their season this week.

They are also making another £5.4million in loans available to teams in the top two tiers of non-league - and hope that persuades the National League North and South to rethink Thursday's decision to declare their season null and void.

The Women's Super League and Championship will also be given grants worth £2.25m as well as a chunk of the 250,000 free Covid tests the Government are supplying.

Women's Super League and Championship clubs are set to receive a £2.25m financial boost

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: 'These free testing kits will help ensure the health and safety of elite athletes in competition remains paramount and mean resources can be focused on protecting the future of sports as we recover from the pandemic.'

England Netball and its Super League will also receive £4.2m in grants, as the Government prioritises women's sport in the latest tranche of its winter survival package.

Dowden added: 'Women's sport has faced acute pressures. I am determined not to let it take a back seat again.'

The Government's sport survival package, which was first announced in November, is worth £300m - £50m in grants and £250m in loans.

It is to support sports until the end of March but there is already talks of additional financial help from April onwards if crowd restrictions are still in place.