ACCRINGTON Stanley’s owner Andy Holt has called on football bosses to suspend the season to protect fans from coronavirus.

The outspoken owner says the season should be finished off in the summer to allow time for the virus alert to die down – especially as many supporters are in the at-risk over-70s group.

He tweeted: “If I had my way the EFL would pause the season in response to COVID-2019.

“The games can be caught up nearer the summer when we know better how bad this filthy, horrible virus affects the UK.

“There is no case for continuing increasing risks with gatherings of millions of supporters, decent folk.

“I’d take the lead here, I would not wait for others to decide. My mates in Italy all say their government acted too late. There will be a cost to clubs but not nearly enough to take the risk.

“And I’m not in a state of panic. As Henry Ford once said, ‘why have the risk where you don’t need any?’

“We should not be gaming this virus. One life lost is too many and I don’t care how old or infirm the person is. It’s time for something I’ve never seen in the EFL, strong leadership.

“Time to get the tanks on the lawn. Older people don’t deserve to die. I’m sick of hearing ‘but he (or she) was old and had pre-existing conditions. Our parents and grandparents matter.”

In Italy, Serie A football matches are being played behind closed doors, with 16 million people quarantined in the northern section of the country in a bid to contain the worst outbreak of the virus.