Football League chiefs lobby MPs for support in ITV Digital crisis

Football League chiefs will tonight lobby MP's for their support in the ITV Digital crisis.

League chairman Keith Harris and chief executive David Burns will speak to the all-party football group at the House of Commons.

They will express concern about ITV Digital's refusal to pay the £178m (€290m) still owed from their television deal.

One of the points they will raise is the question of the "Digital Dividend".

This is the process by which ITV Digital's owners Carlton and Granada get huge tax breaks from the government for persuading customers to move to digital TV.

League spokesman John Nagle says: "They will update MPs on the situation and let them know the Football League's point of view.

"They will not be asking the government to bail out the League but we are looking for support in helping us to get Carlton and Granada to meet their obligations to us.

"Keith and David will be asking MPs if it is fair for Carlton and Granada to receive these rebates at a time when their actions threaten the future of our football clubs."