FORMER Colchester United favourite Ian Allinson says the National League made a 'massive mistake' in choosing to go ahead with matches despite the coronavirus crisis.

Allinson, who made more than 300 league appearances for the U's before leaving to join Arsenal in 1983, is manager of St Albans City whose National League South relegation battle with Braintree Town went ahead on Saturday.

Colchester's scheduled home game with Scunthorpe United was postponed because of the global pandemic along with all other EFL and Premier League games, with the leagues suspended until April 3 at the earliest.

Allinson's St Albans side ran out 1-0 winners at Braintree but the former U's promotion winner says the game should not have been played.

Allinson said: "I think they've got it wrong and made a massive mistake.

"They really seriously need to look at what they're doing, in the future.

"We've won the game 1-0 which I'm really pleased about but we really shouldn't be here playing.

"This should have been cancelled or postponed like the rest of the leagues in Europe were.

"We've all got family at home and older family members and we shouldn't be here risking what we're doing.

"I know the government have made a decision and the FA have sat on the fence as normal and not made a decision.

"The Scottish FA, the Welsh FA and the Irish FA made a decision - the English FA sat on the fence and said 'we'll leave it to you guys'.

"They should have cancelled all football at the weekend and probably until April 4.

"I have to ask the question, why are all the academy sides in this country, along with the Premier League and EFL closed down until April 4? "I spoke to Watford about us being allowed to play their two on-loan players and they were comfortable with that.

"They didn't think they'd been exposed to anything at their club.

"There's a lot of worry and a lot of seriousness that's going on in the world at the moment and we have to take care of that and make sure that all of our family and people around us are cared for, looked after and we don't risk this disease, because by all accounts it's very vicious.

"I've asked all the players to say if they develop a cough, a temperature or any kind of symptoms to let me know and self isolate."

Joe Iaciofano’s first-half strike proved the difference between the two sides at Cressing Road, lifting St Albans out of the bottom two at Braintree's expense.

"We're not in the bottom two, which is good," added Allinson.

"If they made a decision to end the season now and they kept the placings as they are, then we're not going to get relegated."