THERE are few things more gruesome than a politician trying to demonstrate they are as one with their people, claiming to be massive football fans.

Swearing allegiance to “Wolverhampton Villa”, or “Aston Athletic” only serves to demonstrate just how out of touch they really are, and just how idiotic they can look.

And that is why I have always been honest. I have no interest whatsoever in football, or, indeed, most sports, aside from the very occasional big game – maybe Wimbledon or World Cup finals.

But, I completely understand the absolute passion felt by fans, and I completely understand how important a club like the Kidderminster Harriers is to a community.

I have spoken up on issues around local clubs, and always tried to help the Harriers when they find themselves struggling.

Indeed, the financial challenges on clubs like the Harriers serves to illustrate that the football economy is very complicated, relying on huge donations from investors to keep it going. Some clubs make money, but most need patronage to survive.

So, when the new Super League emerged this week, I was fascinated by how it would all play out. I was keen to understand and asked as many people who cared what they thought – and there were a lot.

Part of the issue was that it would be a poor quality league. With no prospect of relegation, where was the jeopardy? But, I argued, so what? If it lacks the thrill of demotion, don’t watch it.

But to me, the possibility of money being sucked out of the wider football economy, as Super Leagues games are sold in Asia over the traditional leagues, became the bigger issue. Inevitably, the call went out for the government to intervene.

Instinctively, I don’t think the government should rarely intervene. It should certainly regulate, and it should step in where there are market failures, but should it really start interfering in the world of football?

In the end, of course, the situation resolved itself. The market, in the form of millions of fans, demonstrated that it was a terrible idea and the six UK clubs pulled out of the Super League. And that is what should happen.

Fans have shown, in a democratic and economic way, that they hated the idea of the Super League. And it is now not happening.

That is far better than the big boots of the government stepping in.