Interviews

Albion chairman hopes big six will build bridges

Tony Bloom says he hopes the six clubs who were involved in the now defunct European Super League proposals will begin to rebuild their relationships with the rest of the Premier League at the annual conference next month.

By Bruce Talbot • 30 May 2021

By Paul Hazlewood
Albion chairman Tony Bloom.

The Albion chairman said, "As you know, with trust and reputation, it can take a long time to build and a short time for it to go. But the six clubs are here to stay. 

"They're a very important part of the Premier League, so we have no choice but to rebuild relationships. A lot of it's down to them, but we as a club and individuals will speak to them, we'll have to. 

"I'd like to see what the fall-out is going to be, the punishment from the sanctions are going to be, but at the end of the day they're part of the 20 Premier League clubs and it's important we all put what's happened behind us and work together, because working together will be better for the Premier League, which is obviously then better for everyone."

Bloom was less than impressed with the ESL plans, adding, "It would have been terrible for our club, because the way things work in football in Europe and certainly in England, is that it is a meritocracy. There has got to be jeopardy. There is a chance of relegation.

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Bloom: Fans' return is monumental

"And if you do well in the Premier League, you get into Europe. You take that away and what is the Premier League? In my view, what the six clubs did was totally outrageous.

"I don't understand how they felt they could get this through. It's fine for clubs to have the idea of another competition. That is fine to bring it through the front door and to discuss it. But to go through the way they did was totally unacceptable.

"It is really important that the Premier League, the FA and UEFA put into place sanctions for clubs who do this in the future. The deterrent should be big enough that this is never allowed to happen again."