Nationwide League: League hits back in TV row

The Football League today branded the sale of ITV Digital as irrelevant to their campaign to recover the £178. 5million the station owes to cash-strapped clubs.

The Football League today branded the sale of ITV Digital as irrelevant to their campaign to recover the stg£178.5million the station owes to cash-strapped clubs.

Soccer chiefs and the broadcaster’s parent companies Carlton and Granada are slugging it out over whether ‘parent guarantees’ were included ITV Digital’s £315m three-year contract to screen live games.

And yesterday’s confirmation that the new owners of the station would not be liable for the debt prompted the League to emphasise their rock-solid position in the row that could leave dozens of lower division clubs facing bankruptcy.

Spokesman John Nagle said the £74m top offer received by Carlton and Granada still £104.5m short of the figure owed was unacceptable.

And warning of legal action during the World Cup, he said: ‘‘The sale doesn’t fundamentally change the situation. We will continue to seek the full £178.5m they owe us, even if ITV Digital is sold.

‘‘We simply cannot accept the offers Carlton and Granada have put on the table. It is an absolute must that they meet their second payment date of £89.25m, in August.

‘‘We still hold the position we have held, which is asking that they pay in August and commit to further negotiations over a third payment.

‘‘It’s vital they resume negotiations with us, rather than trawling through the courts. It’s better for all parties to negotiate, but if it goes to court, we will see it through.’’

The League, who yesterday registered their interest in taking over ITV Digital in tandem with a third-party broadcaster, have threatened a £500m lawsuit if Carlton and Granada fail to guarantee the August payment date.