Graeme Souness has launched a furious attack on councillors who blocked his plans for an industrial development which could have created thousands of new Amazon jobs. The Rangers legend has accused North Lanarkshire Council of blocking the multi-million-pound scheme because it is linked to him rather than on the project鈥檚 merits. He told the Sunday Mail it showed there was 鈥渟omething fundamentally wrong with the system鈥 and added: 鈥淚 have to believe it鈥檚 because I鈥檓 involved in it.鈥 Souness鈥檚 firm Orchard Brae has been working on the plans for -Europark, opposite Eurocentral near Coatbridge, for almost a decade. It would hold almost 1000 homes, a football academy, two schools, a community centre and business space. Amazon was in talks with the firm to create up to 2000 jobs with a new warehouse while there were also discussions about an apprenticeship academy. But councillors voted overwhelmingly against the plans this month after campaigners argued it would be detrimental to the environment and destroy greenbelt land. Souness spoke out days after Amazon announced a 拢40billion investment in the UK starting with two -fulfilment centres in the East Midlands, creating thousands of jobs. Souness said: 鈥淥ur consultants were actively talking to multiple multi-national companies. We had people very keen to get involved and that option is no longer there. 鈥淣orth Lanarkshire should be the engine room of Scotland. 鈥淭his was an opportunity to create a better life for the people of that area and further afield. 鈥淐irca 拢1billion was spent on a motorway to encourage growth and they鈥檙e sitting with Eurocentral offices half full. That must be an embarrassment. The council are talking about a crisis in their funding next year, circa 拢30million which will mean services are going to go down.鈥 Souness acknowledged concerns over greenbelt land but said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 not exactly the rolling hills of Perthshire. It鈥檚 a canal with more supermarket trollies than the local Tesco in it, and it鈥檚 a dumping ground for tyres. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something fundamentally wrong with the system if these councillors see it this way.鈥 Orchard Brae is able to appeal the planning decision to ministers. Souness said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeking advice on what our next steps should be.鈥 North Lanarkshire Council declined to comment on Souness鈥檚 remarks.