West Midlands football fans unite in anger towards ESL

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham are among 12 clubs who have agreed to join the new European Super League.

The Premier League teams will join the likes of AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid in the competition which will have no relegation and will see its fixtures played midweek.

The proposal has been widely condemned with critics saying the competition is driven by money, would destroy domestic leagues and is against the integrity of the sport.

And West Midlands Football fans agree.

Alan Stuart, from the Wolves parliament, said: "For those six clubs to sign up to this is disgusting and shows a complete lack of respect.

"They aren't just disrespecting the other 14 clubs in the Premier League and the people who support them – they are disrespecting every other club in England and their supporters.

"You look at clubs like us, like Leicester who have shown real ambition in recent years – it's a complete slap in the face for clubs like that.

"I think it's fear. Those clubs are worried someone is going to overtake them so they want to start a super league with no relegation. It's shambolic.

"And having Tottenham in is like Bananaman getting a call-up to The Avengers. It's so arrogant.

"Look back to the 90s and Newcastle were a top-six side. Leicester have won the Premier League recently. Who is to say the big six can't change again?

"West Ham have had a great season but the truth is these clubs don't like looking over their shoulder. The arrogance they are showing is unreal."

Albion Supporters’ club chairman John Homer said: "I find these plans for a super league incredibly disrespectful and there is a big part of me that wants to say good riddance to these clubs.

"The teams are already awash with money, they get all the big decisions and they go around stealing our best young players.

"They have already de-valued competitions like the FA Cup and the League Cup.

"And you look at Spurs and Arsenal – they have never won the European Cup or Champions League, Tottenham have never won the Premier League. The audacity they are showing is incredible.

"When you look at it clinically it is all about money. Barcelona, Real Madrid and the Italian clubs need the money. If they can have a closed competition where they pocket the broadcast revenue every year they are going to do it.

"We have such a rich history of football in this country. Yet the owners of these clubs have come in and couldn't care less about that or the supporters who make the game.

"It's all about making money for them, it's unethical and immoral.

"There is a big part of me that thinks 'okay – you go and pipe your own end.'

"And if they do go, I certainly won't miss the morality and ethics of these clubs and their owners."

Mo Razzaq, director of the Villa Trust, said: "The super league goes against everything football stands for.

"It is supposed to be about aspiration, about dreaming your team can make it to the top.

"These so-called big six wouldn't be anywhere today if it wasn't for the founder members like ourselves, Wolves and Albion.

"But they don't care about the history of the game, it's all about money – they are completely disrespecting fans and the traditions of the game.

"It is nothing but greed. They talk about having been hit financially following the coronavirus pandemic.

"But what about clubs in League One and League Two who had to furlough players and we worried about going out of business?

"I sincerely hope it does not happen. And if it doesn't, there has to be consequences for these clubs.

"They have all shown they don't care about our game and our leagues. That is wrong."