The EFL's chairman Rick Parry has argued against a "begging-bowl" culture in lower-league clubs as a way of helping during the coronavirus lockdown.

Parry suggested clubs should not "just be looking for handouts" from the Premier League during the challenging period without games.

The League chief added that it was better to adopt a "self-help" mentality to find ways through the crisis and towards "a better future".

Many lower-league and non-league clubs have called on the wealthy top-flight to give financial help to those down the pyramid who may struggle to survive during a long suspension of matches.

At Carlisle United's level, the EFL have made a £50m short-term relief fund available.

This has seen the Blues receive a £164,000 advance - money they would normally have received over three months.

Loans are also available to clubs, but Parry, speaking on BBC 5 Live, argued against simply demanding cash from the game's top tier.

He said: "I'm not a fan of the begging-bowl culture.

"Rather than just looking for handouts, it's better to go with a self-help mentality, saying, 'this is what we've done, this is the problem that we find ourselves in, so how can we all help to produce a better future?'

"I think it's much better, in dialogue with the Premier League, to talk about sustainable futures and how we might be able to have a reset going forward."

Clubs at various levels have asked the Premier League to use some of their millions to help support the game, from the lower leagues to the grass roots.

Parry, though, pointed out that the top-flight "will have their own problems and shortages" as a result of the pandemic.

He also said there was not a "money tree" which would allow the League to bail clubs out over and above what they have offered to help over the next three months.

Games have been provisionally suspended until April 30 but there is widespread scepticism that football will resume then as the virus's devastating impact continues.

Parry suggested the 2019/20 campaign finishing in June and the following campaign starting on time in August was "wishful thinking".

He added: “People are starting to realise that there is no rule book for this.

“There is no manual and we are going to have to be incredibly flexible in terms of how the season pans out because we don’t know whether it is going to be behind closed doors or when it is going to recommence.

“I think there is going to be a knock on effect for 18 months so we are going to need a lot of flexibility, a lot out of out-of-the-box thinking and now, more than any other time, a time for cool heads."