Wolves hero Steve Bull's joy as super league collapses
Steve Bull is glad plans for a European Super League have fallen through and Wolves have the opportunity to get into Europe again ‘through hard work’.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham had wanted to break away into a closed shop but have seen their plot scuppered after huge fan backlash.
The future of Uefa’s Champions League and Europa League competitions, as well as the Premier League, had been placed into doubt.
But Bull, who relished seeing his beloved club reach the Europa quarter-finals in 2019/20, is delighted Wolves and other clubs looking to break the mould can continue in their quest.
“We tasted European football and we absolutely loved it. And we got that taste through merit,” said the 306-goal Molineux legend.
“We got there through hard work and playing football – not because of having millions and millions of pounds to start up a Super League.
“Wolves earned it. They got there through merit and hard work, which is proper football.
“It was special, coming into the Premier League and managing to get into the Europa League.
“Wolves are an old, traditional side. We hadn’t been in Europe for a long time. You have to work your socks off for it, and that’s the way it should be.
“So, I’m glad the Super League plans have been stopped. It’s the rich getting richer and it didn’t sit right with me, and millions of others in the football world.”
Wolves gained their entry into the Europa League through finishing seventh in 2018/19 – after winning the Championship title the year prior.
They also finished seventh last campaign but ended up being denied by Arsenal’s FA Cup win. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have not managed to reach the same level this term as they currently sit 12th, but West Ham are fourth while Leicester are third.
And Bull does not subscribe to the idea of a ‘big six’.
“I want to see teams challenging to get into that top four, top six or top seven” he said.
“The Super League would have been just giving those six teams what they want and letting the rest fight for the scraps. It wasn’t right.
“It could be us, it could be Leicester, it could be West Ham. Who are the top six?
“Manchester United could have a rubbish season and finish eighth or ninth. Arsenal could be down there. It’s anybody’s league.
“There’s not a definite top six. Of course, we’ve been up and down this year, but there isn’t a top six. No way.”
The 14 other Premier League clubs ‘unanimously and vigorously rejected’ the plans for the Super League, which would have had no relegation with fixtures played in midweek.
Wolves issued an impassioned statement insisting they would never accept a place in the competition and stressed the owners of the 12 founder clubs are ‘afraid of uncertainty’.
“Those six are very business-minded and they want more money than they’ve got,” added Bull.
“The other teams below would’ve been scrapping for everything else.
“It would’ve been terrible for the country and grassroots. But the fans, who the game is all about, made their voices heard and got it stopped, which is great.”
