European Super League collapse will delight Brett Ormerod who feared heart would be ripped out of football

The Gazette columnist added his voice to the widespread condemnation of the proposed competition, which shocked the world of football when it was announced on Sunday night.

The former striker, who played for the Seasiders in each of the top four tiers in the English game, saw

the full ramifications for the sport at all levels.

Ormerod said: "Like pretty much everyone else I was in shock that the heart was being ripped out of English football for the sake of a league that is not competitive and goes against every principle of sport.

"Football is all about the underdog, the principle that anyone can beat anyone on the day. Instead we'd have a league with no relegation, in which the teams at the bottom would have nothing to play for in the second half of the season.

"I don't know whether they really want to go through with this or whether it's just about bartering for a bigger slice of the pie at a time the whole game is struggling because of Covid. Only time will tell."

Whatever the ultimate intentions of the 12 clubs who originally signed up, the concept made no sense to the Seasiders great.

"And it just seemed bizarre that Tottenham were in there," he added. "I'd argue that Leeds are a bigger club and Leicester are certainly a better club based on wins this season. Is it just because Spurs have a nice new ground?

"They haven't consulted the fans and I haven't heard a single fan in the country who has a good word to say for it. It's just faceless owners looking to fill their pockets."

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