Manchester United co-owner Joel Glazer has penned an open letter to the club's supporters, admitting that the decision to join the European Super League was "wrong".
On Sunday evening, the breakaway league was announced, with Glazer confirmed as the vice-chairman of the controversial competition.
The Super League has since fallen apart, with supporters, governing bodies and the Government playing a key role in all six English clubs announcing that they had withdrawn.
Glazer has now apologised "unreservedly" for the decision and has insisted that he will work to rebuild trust with the supporters moving forward.
"Over the past few days, we have all witnessed the great passion which football generates, and the deep loyalty our fans have for this great club," read the letter, which was posted on Man United's official website.
"You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened. We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right.
"Although the wounds are raw and I understand that it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans and learning from the message you delivered with such conviction.
"We continue to believe that European football needs to become more sustainable throughout the pyramid for the long-term. However, we fully accept that the Super League was not the right way to go about it.
"In seeking to create a more stable foundation for the game, we failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions –promotion, relegation, the pyramid – and for that we are sorry. This is the world's greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days.
"It is important for us to put that right. Manchester United has a rich heritage and we recognise our responsibility to live up to its great traditions and values. The pandemic has thrown up so many unique challenges and we are proud of the way Manchester United and its fans from Manchester and around the world have reacted to the enormous pressures during this period.
"We also realise that we need to better communicate with you, our fans, because you will always be at the heart of the club. In the background, you can be sure that we will be taking the necessary steps to rebuild relationships with other stakeholders across the game, with a view to working together on solutions to the long-term challenges facing the football pyramid.
"Right now, our priority is to continue to support all of our teams as they push for the strongest possible finish to the season. In closing, I would like to recognise that it is your support which makes this club so great, and we thank you for that."
On Sunday night, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was confirmed as the chairman of the Super League, while Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli had been set to join Joel Glazer as a vice-chairman.
Matt Law
