COLCHESTER United's cup exploits against the biggest clubs in the country could become a thing of the past if the controversial new European Super League goes ahead.

That's the fear of Colchester United Supporters Association chairman Jon Burns, who feels the new competition between Europe's big hitters is bad for the game - and supporters.

English football's so-called 'big six' - Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham - have agreed to join the new breakaway league (ESL), along with six other clubs from Spain and Italy.

 

It is a move that could have huge ramifications for the sport all over Europe, from elite competition to grassroots football.

The midweek competition has attracted widespread condemnation, including from football's governing bodies, fans' trusts, former players and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

League Two side Colchester enjoyed a superb run to the EFL Cup quarter-finals in the 2019-20 season which saw them famously beat Spurs and take on Manchester United, at Old Trafford.

But Burns feels such big cup occasions could become a rarity in the future for clubs like the U's, if the new ESL goes ahead.

He said: "As a football fan, I think football is becoming more and more a money-orientated business.

"It's all about how much money people can make out of it, how much players can earn, how much owners can earn, how much you can sell TV rights for.

"If you look at the game on the pitch, yes they've got the best players and it's almost perfect football - it's risk-free football and that feels strange, to me.

"The product they want to serve with the very best players in the world with these teams playing each other each week playing that sort of football, if that's what floats the boat with the TV companies to get the money in it's shocking.

"But the damage if this goes ahead - and if the threatened action by UEFA and the Football Association comes to fruition - could mean that we could potentially never see those clubs spoken of in competitions such as the FA Cup and League Cup with Colchester ever again.

"We may never get to Old Trafford ever again, like we did 18 months or so ago.

"I'm a little bit anti the Premier League and how money has corrupted it.

"It's risen since lockdown and all of the fun and games happening with who was going to help the lower league clubs and the Premier League weren't going to open their purse without concessions coming back the other way shows the contempt that some clubs at the higher end of the pyramid have for football.

"Perhaps Manchester United don't want Colchester United or any other going to Old Trafford in the FA Cup again?

"Perhaps it's not what floats their boat anymore."

Fan groups connected to the six English clubs involved have voiced strong opposition to the Super League.

Burns feels that supporters of many Premier League sides are becoming increasingly alienated from their clubs, with money the prime cause.

Burns added: "What do fans of the Premier League clubs get from their football clubs anymore? "Unless they're extremely wealthy and they can spends thousands flying around watching their team, it's hard to see.

"Remember when the Manchester clubs for example have needed their fans in the past when times have been hard - that's almost a smack in the face for some of the proud history that they've had with their supporters, over the years.

"I don't know what the motive is behind this, unless it is money.

"My view is that if this is where these teams and their owners want to go, a strong view would be to cut them off completely.

"Perhaps the way to hurt these people is by boycotting the TV, if that's where these teams are going to get the money from.

"Fans can do their bit by not buying the product.

"Maybe the Premier League has become a victim of the way that it's managed the game."

What do you think of the proposed new European Super League? Take part in our poll.