Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt, who left his role as the club’s head of first-team development last month, described the way the Super League concoction as “the worst case of bullying”.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea announced their intention to join the Super League on Sunday night, but have already withdrawn from the competition.
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The outrage of the fans, pundits, players, managers, other clubs and stakeholders is thought to have been a major factor in their decision to back out and Liverpool owner John W Henry has accepted full responsibility for the decision in an apology to Liverpool fans.
But Butt says any apology will fall on deaf ears, with the breakaway decision unforgivable.
Butt told Sky Sports News: “I don’t think apologies are too great anyway, if I’m honest. I think what happened should never have happened.
“What happened is the worst case of bullying, in my opinion, from powerful people, so whether they apologise or not is irrelevant to me, really.”
And Graeme Souness says those that have made the decisions need to be held to account and that Ed Woodward’s decision to resign from Manchester United is just the first of what he thinks will be many departures from the six English clubs.
“This is just the beginning,” he said on Sky Sports. “The supporters will not forgive the people who decided to go for this idea. They talk a good game, they tell us how much they love their football clubs, how they are behind it – but they have been shown to sell their soul basically.
“They were going to sell the souls of our major institutions. They were selling their souls for quick money. Our supporters will not forgive them. We are not America. Britain is a proper country. Yes we are not perfect, we are a proper country filled with proper people.
“I don’t know how these clubs will manage to get them onside and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I expect to see more people resign.
“The damage, if you imagine what has been going on, this has been on the go for months and months. These chairman have been going to Premier League meetings knowing their intention was to pull out. They have been so underhanded and this will be a relationship that will need some mending.
“The decision has been made in America, they have no idea how we view football in our country. They have got it wrong at every level. Is there a chance of it being revitalised? I don’t think so.
“You wouldn’t want to go nowhere near it. Man City money is not a problem for them. Roman Abramovich wont be hoping for a quick buck, but the rest of them might have been.
“Some of the Americans may have looked at this and wanted to get out in two years but they have been found out. How will the scousers take to John Henry after this? I don’t think he comes back after this.
“They will not forgive John Henry for this. It’s different for Abramovich, it seems like he has been dragged in, City have been dragged in by the Americans and the clubs in Spain who are by all accounts absolutely skint. The relationship between the fans and board will be damaged forever.”
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