ENOUGH.

Enough.

“A football club is more than just a club; it is an institution at the heart of our communities… Sport must be run in the interest of those who follow, participate and love it. NOT for the privileged and wealthy few.”

“Football is nothing without fans”

It has only been a few days since my last post. I’m not writing so soon because I’m so ecstatic that we beat Burnley. Enough is enough.

For years now, fans have been cast aside whilst multi-billionaire owners exploit our loyalty to make them even more money. The announcement yesterday has to be the final nail in the coffin for all of us.

I wrote the other day about how memories with my old man are what developed my love of football and made it such a big part of my life. That’s gone now.

When owners have no connection to the local area and use us as cash cows to make money there was always one end goal. Bleed as much money out of these clubs as they can. The Glazers at Manchester United are a fine example of this.

They have never given an interview. Never invested their own money. Left the stadium to rot. Brought staggering levels of debt and done nothing for this club. Any success we have had during their tenure is in spite of them, NOT because of them.

They made Ed Woodward our chairman. In 2020, Ed Woodward was asked about the Super League: “I don’t know where that story came from.” He’s now resigned his spot at UEFA and Manchester United are no longer a member of the European Club Association. Sounds like you lied, Ed.

Manchester United and Liverpool. The two biggest clubs in this country. Two clubs that ‘pride’ themselves on their working-class roots and the connection to their community. The locals were proud to call themselves Mancs and Scousers.

It’s these two clubs I am most ashamed of right now. I have written countless times of my despair for Liverpool football club, but right now, it’s not hatred it’s almost a sadness. My club and Liverpool have sold out, simply because the American Owners wanted to make more money.

Those of you who say Football is a business, yes you are technically right but it’s so much more than that. It’s somewhere to go on a weekend where you can forget all your problems. It’s a place to enjoy a beer with your mates. A place where you could laugh, cry scream and shout. The click of a turnstile. The pie at half-time.

No matter what you felt a part of something. You could meet somebody completely new and as soon as they say they follow football, you’ve made a new friend. The best night of my life was the Champions League final in Moscow.

Our ‘Busby Babes’ died returning from a European Cup tie. Our owners are taking our opportunity in that beloved competition away from us. The very heart and soul of the beautiful game is being ripped out in front of us all in the name of profit and greed.

Those very owners that are doing this are cowards by just releasing PR statements. They’ve left it to managers and players to answer questions. Putting their employees in unfair positions by placing them in a hypothetical firing line.

The finances the Super League entails are silly numbers. Investment banks in the USA are funding it at $7 BILLION. What if it flops? What happens to the clubs? Debts would sky-rocket. The money in football is already astronomical. it’s completely criminal and a disgrace. An indictment on football fans who are being stripped of following their club.

Football was always sold as this Meritocracy. A sport where if you worked hard, you’d win trophies. Leicester is a prime example of this. With the financial benefits that the 6 clubs would gain, a fairy-tale story would be extremely unlikely ever again.

Joel Glazer, part of our ownership, will be an executive chairman within the Super League structure. A share of $3.5 billion (could rise to $10 BILLION) solidarity payment, a possible $6.5 billion TV deal in addition to other financial benefits are the reasons why these clubs have sold out.

A statement from Joel Glazer: “By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.”

A new chapter of world-class facilities? Have you seen the state of Old Trafford? A man who hasn’t given an interview to the media of a club he owns is now trying to portray a clear money grab as a love for football. It’s sickening. How he can talk about facilities whilst OT leaks and rusts is, quite frankly, disgusting. This gimp didn’t even understand the offside rule!

A new Champions League format is in the works where money was shared among more clubs. Less money for the big clubs so they looked at alternatives. As I said, money rules all in football now, not fans.

Jurgen Klopp in 2019: “I hope the super league never happens.”

Klopp spoke out against these proposals. Reports suggest Mourinho refused to train because of the news. Solskjaer only found out yesterday morning. It sounds like there was no colluding with management and players and that those at board level have taken it upon themselves to put their clubs in the super league.

There was no deliberation with fans. We have always been against it. Arsenal and Tottenham aren’t currently in the Top 6. Fuck me Spurs haven’t won the league since 1961! The whole thing is absolutely shambolic and an insult to football fans. It’s an insult to the likes of Leicester and West Ham, Southampton, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Blackburn among many others.  Where is the motivation to succeed now?

I’m so angry. Manchester United have a banner in place where the fans sit. On the banner it had wise words from a Manchester United great; Sir Matt Busby: “Football without fans is nothing.”

If the Glazers ever turned up to Old Trafford, then maybe they’d have seen it!

Owners of these clubs have no idea of the roles that these clubs play in their local communities. They have taken advantage of our loyalty for so long. They seem to think these clubs belong to them. They don’t they belong to the supporters and they always will.

Enough is enough. We’re sick of it.

If this goes ahead, I hate to say it but I’ll never set foot in Old Trafford again. The love I have for my club has taken a huge hit and I don’t know if it will ever come back.

They sold out and have shown everyone they don’t care about us.

Usually, I would end with a cheeky joke at Liverpool’s expense. Not this time because this time we are as bad, if not worse than them. Time for fans of all clubs to come together and fight this change.

This is the ultimate betrayal of loyal football supporters.

Enough.

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Follow me on Twitter: @_callumstone