DALE VINCE has spoken of his surprise after football's governing bodies shutdown the game in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, labelling it a ‘mistake’ in doing so.

In a Facebook post the Forest Green chairman believes top-flight chiefs should play the remaining 10 games behind closed door in an attempt for this term’s league programme to be completed.

He said: “I think the shutdown was a mistake. We could have rescheduled to play every Saturday and Tuesday to end the season, behind closed doors if necessary - and the season could have been almost finished in the four week lay-off period. Not ideal but very doable, the lay-off just pushes the issue into what will surely be a more difficult time with more limited options.

“I was surprised when football’s government bodies announced the shutdown. The virus had affected a small number of teams in the PL, with precautionary self- isolation more than confirmed cases - and surely postponement of a few fixtures, would have been a more appropriate response. It’s not like players don’t get sick or injured during any given season.

“Quite what happens next in the world of football is hard to predict. The four-week lay-off puts us in limbo - at the end of that it seems most likely that the coronavirus will have a greater grip on our country than it does now.

“It looks like the Euros will be cancelled which will make room to extend this season; that will create the space, but the public safety issue will almost certainly mean behind closed doors is the only option. That wouldn’t be the worst outcome. The live streaming ban on games could be lifted in response to that. And we may need something to watch while we self- isolate en masse.”