DAVE Artell says is it essential lower league football continues during the lockdown as the grim finances facing clubs deepens.

Crewe are among those backing the 'SaveOurClubs' campaign which is calling for a financial rescue package to be delivered sooner rather than later to prevent clubs going bust.

The EFL rejected the Premier League's proposed £50 million offer for League One and Two and wants more cash funnelled down from football's elite.

With games behind closed doors income streams have dwindled away, but EFL clubs are said to owe around £90m to the Treasury in tax.

The Crewe boss says any football shutdown would force more lay-offs in the football industry, while also impacting on the nation's mental health.

Many predict people's wellbeing will be under more pressure during the country's second shutdown, and watching football, albeit on a TV or computer screen, offers a release.

Artell said: "If football doesn't carry on then the whole country goes into meltdown. People are finding it tough enough as it is.

"If football stops it will be catastrophic - lots and lots of people will lose their jobs in football.

"I'm not sure whether it would be a political or a medical decision, but it would not be a good decision to stop football.

"We are highly regulated; we're wearing masks, keeping apart and having tests. We had a scare which was not helped by other people. We have got to go on and be prepared as best we can."

Meanwhile, Crewe face a familiar foe when their FA Cup campaign starts tomorrow with a first round trip to Bolton (KO 3pm).

The Alex edged (3-2) the Trotters at the University of Bolton Stadium in the EFL Trophy in September and enjoyed a 3-0 warm-up win at the same venue in August.

Wanderers have struggled under Ian Evatt's tenure since demotion to League Two but Artell warned: "We've got a good grasp of what they bring to the table, but I am sure they will have on us too. So we've got to reach the level we have reached in those games.

"The FA Cup is the best competition in the world. Teams like Burton and Newport have done well in recent seasons and the Cowley brothers at Lincoln made their reputation on cup upsets - it can make a difference a cup run.

"We got to the third round last season before we ran Barnsley close, but we have got to do what we need to do against Bolton tomorrow.

"That's the magic of the cup. We were waiting and when our ball number 15 came out for the draw the other week we knew it was us even without the presenter calling us Skelmersdale."

Crewe's midweek home loss (0-1) at the hands of a Gillingham side they dominated was hard to take, but Artell noted: "Those kinds of defeats are painful, there's no hiding the fact.

"But we played Ipswich off the park last weekend and then we've played Gillingham off the park on Tuesday night, so there are a lot of positives but we won't kid ourselves as we've lost two games of football."