If this Superleague was actually going to come into being - 100% - and you were either in or out - then I think under that threat - I can see how our management reached the conclusion to be in.
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You can question ethics/morality club history - the sense that you must earn your right to play in the top competitions and so forth - but when a well-armed thug comes knocking and demands pay - or else! - how do you respond?
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Our management isn't blameless for it's decision to join this Superleague - but it's not as if - at all - we wanted this to occur and were actively attempting to bring the Superleague into existence.
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Actively supporting the league - versus unwilling participants threatened with irrelevancy - are miles apart in terms of culpability.
I'm disappointed that City management lacked the fortitude to reject this league - but I'm sympathetic and can see why they succumbed.