The Super League fiasco - a blessing in disguise?
By now we're all aware of the Super League plot in which Liverpool FC's owners, Fenway Sports Group, helped instigate the creation of a new private entry elites only European competition. My question today is might this bad situation turn out to be a blessing in disguise?
After mass displeasure from fans helped foil the attempted new closed shop super league we now move to a situation of wrangling between club owners, fans and other vested parties such as the Premier League and UEFA.
In the aftermath the Premier League have been quick to introduce a new 'owners charter' which all clubs including ours will be required to sign. By doing so they commit to the ladder system which provides opportunity for teams to work their way up through domestic leagues and qualify for large tournaments such as the Champions League.
The new charter will also prohibit the formation of any breakaway leagues and protect other 'core principals'. The Premier League are working on this with government as well as other bodies: UEFA, EFL, FA et al and it will contain sanctions for non compliance.
It remains to be seen how good the charter will be in working terms, although I suspect it's likely yet more power grabbing and own interest serving by each of the various organisations involved.
So far then it appears to be a bunch of greedy owners and corporations fighting with one and other for their own gain - it should be noted in some respects their gain is our clubs' gain. Financially that can be the case but not when it's at the expense of the game and our values.
As this situation develops, bringing up the rear are various clubs' supporter groups and maybe, just maybe, their hard work and perseverance will be rewarded with some genuine improvements.
We have supporter groups such as Spion Kop who removed the Kop's banners to protest against the Super League, which although hard on players and manager was I felt a good way to express our disdain and now leading the charge in direct negotiations are Spirit of Shankly.
Yesterday they met with club officials in talks they describe as positive and where they proposed the following. If fully enacted, I believe it would be a massive step forward in the owner, supporter, relationship and could see us look back on 'Super League-gate' as a catalyst of change for the better.
Spirit of Shankly's statement.
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