Shameful, stupid and Staggering

I“What these money men are doing is appalling. It’s disgusting and anyone involved should be utterly ashamed of themselves. They are nothing but a shower of greedy b ******* . The game used to be a way out of the poverty trap. It was a game that could be played and enjoyed by all and it offered light, hope of better times” -Arbroath boss Dick Campbell

’m no’ a Dobbies man and I’m no’ a fisherman,” said Arbroath manager Dick Campbell in the wake of his side’s 2019 League One success. “Saturday’s fitba’ day.”

As the elder statesman of Scottish football, Campbell has been in the game for 51 years. He has masterminded two of Arbroath’s three titles in their 143-year history and is revered across the country for his ‘no-nonsense’ approach.

However, the game he has known and loved for the last 67 years has been under threat of being ripped to shreds by the money men proposing a European Super League.

Arbroath may be light years away from the kind of world where a player like Neymar moves for £198 million and one where Lionel Messi collects a £67m annual wage at Barcelona.

However, the Angus side represents everything he loves about football and the Super League proposals are symptomatic of everything he hates.

“I’ve been in the game for 50 years and I’ve never known anything like what I’ve seen over the last few days,” said Campbell.

“The level of greed and total disdain shown for the people who are the lifeblood of football – the fans – is staggering.

“My wife’s reaction sums it up. She normally takes it all in her stride and isn’t fussed about football but she’s absolutely furious.

“What these money men are doing is appalling. It’s disgusting and anyone involved should be utterly ashamed of themselves. They are nothing but a shower of greedy b ******* .

“The game used to be a way out of the poverty trap. It was a game that could be played and enjoyed by all and it offered light, hope of better times.

“When I was a boy we’d get one football between four of us on Christmas Day and we were in our element. We’d chuck our schoolbags down on the ground after school and use them as goalposts until it got dark.

“I still believe there are people out there who love the game the way I do.

“There are people like me, who, if there is a kickabout on across the road will go out of their house and watch it.

“The game should still that.

“People like me still get a kick out of watching the game they know and love.

“I guarantee 90% of the fans will find it hard to get the money together to pay for the astronomical ticket or TV prices to watch any of these games in the Super League.

“Players are already on £500,000-a-week and more. Where does the greed end?”

In a statement yesterday, Anas Laghari, the secretary general of the ESL, said: “The idea of a Super League is not new. could and be about

“The younger generations are less interested in football, focus on their consoles or something else and only log in for big games but these big games rarely happen.” Campbell begs to differ. He believes the bigmoney TV deals with the likes of Sky, BT and Premier Sports have saturated the game to the point where, even he, reaches for the off button on his remote control.

“TV has dominated the game for years,” said Campbell.

“But during the pandemic it has become even more obvious.

“We’re now seeing games all the way from 11.30 in the morning until 10 or 11 at night.

“I love my football but it’s too much.

“There are too many dull games. Half of the time I feel like I’m watching a game of Subbuteo. I’d be better off doing that.

“Get along to watch game at our level.

“At Arbroath I know every single player I put out on the pitch will give their all for me and for the club.

“The players don’t do it for the money, they do it for the love of the game.

“They aren’t getting paid colossal sums of cash and I think your ordinary punter can relate a lot more to an Arbroath player than they can to one of these £500,000-a-week superstars in ‘the Super League’.” a