'Don't think it'll go away' - What Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom said about Super League plans

Six Premier League clubs were confirmed as founder members of the new competition on Sunday evening. But by Tuesday night, all six had withdrawn in the face of hostile opposition from fans, pundits and what seemed like the entire footballing world.

Many of the clubs involved have apologised to their fans, and Heckingbottom said: “I’m glad there wasn’t a press conference for us amongst it, it was chaos for a couple of days.

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“I think it was wrong and I’m pleased with the outcome so far, but I don’t think it’ll go away. If those owners were committed to the idea, it won’t go away.

“But I’m pleased with the outcome as it stands. The fans have had a voice, the whole of football has had a voice. And that’s only right.

“It’s the wrong way to go about it, clubs and managers speaking about their own self-interest. Football has evolved over hundreds of years but it’s always been a competition and that has to be protected.

Blades LIVE: Recap Paul Heckingbottom’s pre-Brighton press conference here

“The idea sounded like glorified friendlies to me where winning and losing didn’t matter, so it’d be of no interest for me.

“If rules have been broken then it’s for the organisers to enforce punishments. No other self interest or opinions should come into it, because it’s a selfish way of thinking that’s brought about these problems in the first place.”

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