A Kent MP will head up a fan-led review into football finances after six of the countries top clubs revealed their intent to join a new breakaway 'European Super League'.

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Oliver Dowden announces the review

It comes after England's "big six" - Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur - announced plans to join a new competition with six other clubs around the continent.

It was revealed earlier that Chatham and Aylesford's Tracey Crouch, the former Minister for sport and a Spurs fan, will lead a "root and branch" investigation into football.

The government will look at financing of the men's and women's game, its governance and regulations, as well as the merits of an independent regulator.

Speaking in Parliament today Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, MP Oliver Dowden blasted last night's "appalling" announcement.

He said: "These six clubs have announced their decision without any consultation of football bodies and government, worst of all they had no dialogue with their own fans.

"This moves goes against the very spirit of the game, this is a sport where Leicester City can ascend from League One to Premier League title in under a decade, earning the right to go toe-to-toe against European heavyweights in the Champions League.

'We will put everything on the table to stop this from happening...'

"Instead a small handful of owners want to create a closed shop of elite clubs at top of the game, a league based on wealth and brand recognition rather than upon merit, we will not stand by and watch football be cravenly stripped of things which makes millions across the country love it."

The Conservative MP said football authorities had the full backing of the government and if they couldn't do anything they would step in.

"If they can't act, we will." He added.

"We will put everything on the table to stop this from happening. We will be reviewing everything the government does to support these clubs to play.

"But it's clearer than ever we need a proper examination of the long-term future of football.

"To many fans the game is now almost unrecognisable from a few decades ago, season after season, year after year, football fans demonstrate unwavering loyalty and passion by sticking by their clubs, but their loyalty is being abused by a small number of individuals who hold an incredible amount of power and influence.

"If the past year has taught us anything it's that football is nothing without its fans and these owners should remember they are only temporary custodians of their clubs and they forget fans at their peril.

"Today I've been left with no choice but to formally trigger the launch of our fan-led review of football.

"The review will be chaired by the honourable MP for Chatham and Aylesford.

"It will be a root and branch examination of football in this country - financial sustainability of the men's and women's game, governance and regulation, and the merits of an independent regulator.

"Crucially, it will also consider how fans can have a even greater say in the oversight of the game and the models which might best achieve that. We are unequivocally on the side of fans."

There has been a massive fall out in the football world since the revelations last night, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin saying the plans are "a spit in the face of football lovers".

Mr Ceferin went on to claim clubs and their players who are involved in the competition could be banned from all European competitions, the World Cup and European Championships.

Gravesend footballer Fikayo Tomori is one man from Kent who could feel the impact of any decisions due to his current loan club AC Milan, as well as parent club Chelsea, being two of the 12 involved.

Other European clubs which have backed the plans are Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus.

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