The Premier League has announced a solidarity package with the Football Conference worth £6m over the next three seasons.

Following the £1m payment made to the Football Conference in 2009/10 the Premier League has decided to provide funding for seasons 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 that will support all Football Conference clubs.

The funding will be split into general payments made to all sixty-eight Conference clubs and a separate club development fund which any Conference club can apply to for specific projects.

The funding will be structured in the following way:

£1.2m per season provided as funds to support all Football Conference clubs.

£800,000 per season committed to a new club development fund to which all Conference clubs can apply.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "The Premier League and our member clubs recognise the importance of the continued health of football outside the Football League and it is with this in mind that we have made this commitment to the Football Conference.

"In particular, we are extremely pleased to be working with the Football Conference to establish a new club development fund that will allow Conference clubs, all extremely important within their local communities, to invest more funds into local youth development and good cause initiatives."

Football Conference chairman Brian Lee said: "This is a further wonderful gesture of friendship from the Premier League towards the Football Conference.

"The solidarity commitment for three years is most welcome whilst the new funding will allow our clubs to express themselves in a tangible form for the benefit of their communities. We accept the challenge with gratitude."