Graeme Souness insists Liverpool fans ‘will NOT forgive’ John W Henry as he slams Big Six owners willing to ‘sell their souls’ for European Super League… and says Ed Woodward’s resignation is ‘just the tip of the iceberg’
Graeme Souness has slammed the owners who were prepared to ‘sell their souls’ in order to forge a European Super League as the Liverpool icon cast doubt over John W Henry’s standing as Reds owner.
The controversial plan – that would have seen 12 European clubs form the league that had been described as a ‘closed shop’ – has lasted just 48 hours with all six English clubs involved announcing their intent to leave the £4.6billion scheme.
Chelsea set the wheels in motion to leave late on Tuesday afternoon, before Manchester City became the first club to officially announce their desire to leave.
Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United have followed suit, with Red Devils chief executive announcing his departure from the Old Trafford club at the end of 2021.
And Souness has hit out at the unpopular plan, adding that Woodward’s resignation is ‘just the beginning’.
Graeme Souness has hit out at Big Six owners over the European Super League plans
Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are the six who had pledged to join the £4.6bn scheme that threatened the football landscape
‘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.’
However, all six Premier League clubs intend to leave as the European Super League crumbles
Ed Woodward has resigned from his position as executive vice chairman at Manchester United
Souness went on to explain that the six Premier League clubs involved in the plan had been ‘underhanded’ in participating in top-flight meetings while plotting to form the breakaway league.
‘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 67-year-old added that Liverpool’s fervently loyal supporters will struggle to forgive American owner Henry for his role in the breakaway plan.
‘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.
And Souness says Woodward’s resignation is ‘just the tip of the iceberg’ amid the collapse
The Liverpool icon added that Reds fans ‘will not forgive’ American owner John W Henry
‘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.’
