Furious Eastleigh manager Ben Strevens accused the National League of greed and said there was ‘no way whatsoever’ matches should have gone ahead last weekend given the coronavirus pandemic.

The non-league competition controversially announced on Friday that games in their three divisions would proceed as planned despite the ongoing Covid-19 situation wreaking havoc across society and the sporting landscape.

With the Premier League, EFL and a variety of leagues across the continent suspended, Saturday’s non-league clash between Notts County and Eastleigh inadvertently became the biggest game in England, although six other games in the division were ultimately postponed.

There were 4,942 in attendance as the hosts ran out 4-0 victors in a match that Eastleigh boss Strevens believes should never have been played.

“The reason National League games went ahead and the EFL games didn’t go ahead and the Premier League games didn’t go ahead is because whoever sits on the board of the National League cared about money,” he said. “Simple as that.

“For the well-being of the spectators and it’s not only players because they’re young, fit athletes. It’s nothing to do with that.

“It’s the supporters who come here - and it’s not only the supporters, we’ve got a kitman who is an old boy.

“I looked around today and there’s stewards that are older. They’re the ones that are most at risk from this virus.

“There’s no way whatsoever these games should have been played.

“If the EFL are not playing them and if the Premier League are not playing them, then the National League shouldn’t be playing them.”

Responding to Strevens’ comments, National League chief executive Michael Tattersall told the PA news agency: “It’s not really a time for having an argument, it’s a time for reflecting on what’s happening in our society.

“We’re going to put out our own statement thanking everybody for their efforts today and sending everybody who is suffering from the virus or self-isolating all our best wishes.”

Tattersall later added: “The National League is keeping the continuation of the season under constant review and will provide a further update in due course.”