HARWICH and Parkeston manager Mike Wallace has admitted sympathising with league officials over the outbreak of coronavirus.

The Football Association has told leagues to make their own decision regarding playing fixtures in the current climate.

That led to different stances last weekend, with no games in the Thurlow Nunn League and BetVictor Isthmian League - in line with the Premier League and EFL - but matches going ahead as normal in the National League, Essex and Suffolk Border League and Colchester and East Essex League.

The Thurlow Nunn League have halted fixtures until April 4, at the earliest, and that decision - made last Friday - led to the postponement of Harwich's home clash with Burnham Ramblers.

"There's so much uncertainty and I feel genuinely sorry for those that run the leagues," said Wallace.

"In many respects, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

"People will criticise them either way.

"I would have preferred to see the FA lead the way, by imposing a blanket suspension like in Scotland.

"That takes the decision and responsibility away from individual leagues, so we're all on the same page.

"It seems odd that our first team didn't play last weekend but our reserves did (the Border League have since taken the decision to call off games until the start of April).

"Everyone's so confused and we're left wondering if we should train, if we should play or if we should be fixing up friendlies.

"I'd rather we were told what's right and responsible.

"It's either safe or unsafe for us to play.

"The FA are there to govern and I would have liked to see people further up the chain make these big decisions, rather than the volunteers who run our leagues.

"It puts them in an unfair position."

In addition to the Burnham game, Harwich had four other matches scheduled for March.

They were due to visit Coggeshall United, Newbury Forest and Lopes Tavares, before finishing the month with a trip to Halstead Town.

All of those games are now off, with the club's next scheduled fixture - as things stand - being at home to Barkingside on April 4.

However, Wallace added: "Personally, I'd be surprised if we play again in April.

"The situation is going to be worse, rather than better, so I find it hard to believe we'll play again until the summer."