MIDDLESBROUGH FC loanee Yannick Bolasie and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer are among the big North-East footballing names to express their anger over the notion of a Super League.

Bolasie, who is on loan to Middlesbrough from Premier League side Everton, pointed out that the biggest clubs appear to be breaking away from domestic football just as the Premier League becomes more competitive.

He tweeted: "I was a fan before I played football, I’m a fan now and will be after I finish playing.

"It’s not about me or anyone else, it’s about the millions of fans who follow their teams week in week out regardless of success/riches..funny how it starts getting more level and man jump."

Middlesbrough-born pundit Chris Kamara told Teeside's Steph McGovern on Channel 4 that the formation of a Super League was the most 'distasteful news' he had heard in 45-years in the game.

He said other clubs must stand 'side by side' to prevent the 'disgraceful' league from forming.

Meanwhile, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer said via Coral: “These 12 clubs dropped a huge grenade on the sport with this announcement, and the Premier League should respond with a grenade of their own and say ‘OK, you’re going to be banned from the Premier League from next season’.

"That’s how they should deal with this."