Preston North End boss Alex Neil wants to see the season suspended rather than games behind closed doors amid coronavirus pandemic

There is speculation that the Premier League and EFL are bracing themselves for a decision ordering games to be played behind closed doors.

That would be in line with the Government moving to the 'delaying' stage of dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak.

Neil says this is an unprecedented situation and the health of fans, players, staff and officials have to come first.

For that reason, he thinks the fixture list should be halted for a spell rather than games be played with no fans in the stadiums.

Speaking at Springfields on Thursday morning, Neil said: "If I'm being brutally honest in terms of my own personal preference, I listened to Pep Guardiola talk the other day and I was in agreement with everything he said.

"Football is all about the fans, that is what we do it for - we do it for the fans.

"Everything is set up for fans to come, have their day, watch their team, cheer them on, so I'm not a big advocate at all of behind closed door games.

"It would be surreal and very different, which would mean the feeling, the momentum, just everything about it would be different.

"As a home team, I don't think the advantage you generally have is going to be there because you haven't got your own support.

"I have played in some behind closed door games in pre-season, I have managed in some, and if there is no one there you can hear the echo in the big stands, every shout.

"It is not a good atmosphere at all to play football in.

"If it needed to be dealt with, I would rather it be suspended and start again at a later dare instead of playing behind closed doors.

"Paris St Germain did it last night but then 5,000 of their fans met outside the stadium to cheer the win, so it defeats the point."

Neil made a strong point about players and staff being protected - there is the risk of coronavirus spreading even without fans at games.

The 38-year-old said: "Another thing, if you are not going to risk the fans, why would you risk the players?

"I don't get that, it's a half-way house then.

"In my opinion, if a high-profile player catches it then there would be uproar.

"With the fans they are doing it to protect the elderly and vulnerable but we have also got backroom team who are not all young, fit, healthy lads of 18, 19, 20 who are tearing about.

"Our kitman is coming up 65 or something like that. I don't see why he would be regarded as less at risk than someone else.

"I think it is a difficult situation, it is not my bag if you like, it is not my call.

"But it certainly will hamper football if it's played behind closed doors.

"It is an unprecedented situation and I have complete sympathy with the Government.

"If it is necessary to save lives, you have to do what you have to do.

"When the World Health Organisation comes on and says it is a pandemic and you have got Italy, Spain and other countries locking things down, surely we would be proactive and think before we get to that stage let us deal with it now rather than in two weeks time when we are Italy's state."

Neil questioned how the Cheltenham festival had been allowed to go on - PNE's 84-year-old owner Trevor Hemmings stayed away from the popular horse racing event on health grounds.

And he admitted whatever decision is made on how football tries to see out the season, would not be popular with everyone.

"For me, how Cheltenham was on yesterday was incredible, I just don't get it," said Neil.

"If you are going to stop gatherings, do it now, this is the best time to do it, hopefully this gives us the best chance of overcoming it quickly.

"Whatever way they go about it with football, there are going to be people unhappy because of varying circumstances across the league.

"Some teams would be delighted if you stopped it now, some would be devastated.

"I don't know where it starts and ends."