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Southampton: Saints and fellow non-ESL clubs set for emergency meeting

By Marc Walker

A ball of the match is pictured during the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and Southampton at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on June 19, 2020. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE EGERTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
A ball of the match is pictured during the English Premier League football match between Norwich City and Southampton at Carrow Road in Norwich, eastern England on June 19, 2020. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE EGERTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Southampton and the 14 Premier League clubs not involved in the European Super League plans are set for an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

According to multiple sources including the Daily Mail and the Athletic, the top-flight’s “big-six” have not been invited after signing up to the Super League and the other 14 clubs will discuss how to respond to what is a significant threat to English football as a whole.

Relationships between the six and the other clubs in the Premier League will have been damaged by these circumstances. A number of high-profile people within football have spoken out in the last 24 hours, with the overwhelming opinion that a Super League is not wanted at all.

A resolution is needed and the top-flight certainly needs its biggest clubs committed to its domestic calendar – Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish has already revealed the views of clubs before tomorrow’s meeting when speaking to Sky Sports.

A general view of St Marys Stadium home of Southampton (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
A general view of St Marys Stadium home of Southampton (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

Martin Semmens and Southampton have a job to do as well

Saints CEO Martin Semmens is likely to be the club’s representative in Tuesday’s meeting and will surely be agreeing with the opinion of almost all fans that this situation is not right.

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People at St Mary’s will be feeling as betrayed as supporters and pundits by the decisions taken by Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea. The knock-on effects of a potential breakaway would mean a huge effort to sort domestic competition and stop the English pyramid from dying.

What the smaller clubs have is their fans, and they will be representing those that take their places on the terraces each week when talks get underway.

Semmens, the Saints players and Ralph Hasenhuttl must throw their weight behind the effort to stop the Super League happening. As seen with Jurgen Klopp and James Milner on Monday evening, managers and players have a role to play in making sure things stay as they are so that supporters are not driven out of the game they love.

In many ways, the unity shown by clubs loyal to the current setup will be more powerful than those who feel they have outgrown everything or are entitled to more than they currently have

Next. Why Saints must stick with Ralph Hasenhuttl. dark

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