By Fraser Watson
In Steve Cooper and Mark Warburton, you have two managers accustomed to managing sides on a low transfer budget.
Therefore, it was little surprise that following QPR’s 1-0 win at the Liberty Stadium last night, courtesy of Lyndon Dykes’ late winner, the pair were scathing of the chaotic meldown caused by the European Super League (ESL) proposals.
Cooper said: “Money can’t but culture,” whilst Warburton insisted “Twelve of Europe’s biggest clubs had made a grave error.”
While the two sides were playing out a game that all but ended Swansea’s faint automatic promotion hopes, dramatic events were unfolding elsewhere.
A mass protest outside Stamford Bridge ahead of Chelsea v Brighton was promptly followed by the hosts, and then Manchester City, signalling their intentions to withdraw from their new money-spinning venture.
By midnight, the remaining Premier League sides – Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Spurs, had all followed suit.
“My feelings were the same as the general consensus,” said Cooper.
“It was an all-round bad idea in every shape and form. I was just sitting there last night thinking how can this happen?
“If it’s falling apart then that’s a good thing and the quicker it’s rid of the better so we can carry on as usual.”
Indeed, the issue may be as prevalent to Cooper as anyone, with his side having been in the promotion picture all season.
“I’m sitting here now disappointed that we’ve lost a game but could you imagine not having these games where you’re playing for something?
“It’s been good to see football pull together, and supporters putting rivalries aside – especially at this time with what’s going on in the world. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone in support of it, not seen any argument that makes sense or anyone who calls it a good thing.
“Let’s get back to normal and enjoy what is a very important part of people’s lives.”
Cooper admitted that even with a game to prepare for, the issue had been impossible to ignore over the 48 hours that preceded last night’s game.
“It’s taken over, hasn’t it? It’s like the world stopped. Everything came to a standstill and people have stood stand by side.
“But it (football) has so much history and culture, and belongs in communities. Money can’t buy culture, or values, or belief – those things are priceless.
“It looks like the right thing is going to happen and the sooner all this can die down and we can carry on with normal football proceedings the better. And I’m sure that will happen.”
Warburton – who has a background as a City trader before entering full-time coaching – was also scathing in his assessment of the so-called Dirty Dozen.
“When the integrity of any competition goes, and you have a closed shop, then a huge mistake has been made,” said the QPR boss.
“It was a shocking misjudgment to not understand what the strength of the negative reaction would be.
“It quickly drew together so many different groups to rise up, with one voice, and express their feelings against it.
“This is our national game and a global game. And it’s about supporters, they are the heartbeat of the football community. To take their voice and opinion away was a grave error.
“You can only hope the other clubs still there recognize the severity of their error and respond accordingly.
“These people were thinking from a purely business viewpoint. But this game is actually about the fans.”
