"Fans have looked after football in a way" - Burnley boss Sean Dyche on the rise and fall of the prospective European Super League

The spectre of a breakaway European competition reared it's head on Sunday afternoon, before crashing down amid protests from fans at this week's Premier League games, and some training grounds, forcing the owners of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool to abort the project, with their tails firmly between their legs.

Supporters made their voices heard up and down the land, angered that the meritocracy of football was threatened by a closed shop, which included three clubs who have yet to even win the European Cup or Champions League.

The pyramid system had to be protected, and Dyche was pleased to see the weight of public opinion triumph over the greed of the 'big six' clubs.

Dyche was asked about the subject after the 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday, when he had more pressing matters on his mind, but said on Thursday afternoon: "It came out after the game at Manchester United and I didn't really offer too much about it, and with good reason because I had a strong feeling what was probably going to happen, and that was a reaction from all, and certainly the fans.

"I think, eventually, the fans have looked after football in a way, they have gripped hold of a situation and come out with a strong voice against.

"I would be interested in knowing what the six were thinking before, and after.

"If they had a Zoom call between the six, I wouldn't have minded being a fly on the wall listening to that, after the event and before.

"I think football has found its way and fans are powerful.

"People have suggested that fans will weaken because of the strength of media and finance, but I think it is good for the game now and again when fans do gather their thoughts and come together collectively and say 'no, we are not having that'

"And that has been a powerful thing on this occasion."

Clarets chairman Alan Pace this week called on the government to appoint an independent regulator to help protect English football, and Dyche added: "I think our own chairman mentioned about legislation and how it is run and the power.

"Alan has come out of American sport and it is different there, but he has a fair view of it.

"I think football has a visual aspect, a glossy product, has been fantastic and there have been many advances in the game on and off the pitch.

"But some of the underbelly of it is still not right I don't think, and maybe this is a sign of that at a powerful level of a clutch of clubs trying to take football into its own hands.

"I think there are other things that can be tidied up in the game, and if fans prove there are certain things they are not happy with, they can affect that.

"There is a lot of good in football, and that has been done, but maybe there are some things that could still be dealt with better, and certainly the governance and overall control may have to change."