March 30 2002

ITV Sport Channel

The Times reports the First Division clubs are considering to split from the rest of the Nationwide League in any rescue deal with ITV Digital.

The Divison One chairmen are due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the collapse of the TV deal and are keen to cut out the Second and Third Division clubs.

Around 80 per cent of the £178.5m owed to the Football League is for the Division One clubs and a seperate deal could be the only way for them to recoup most of their cash owed.

But Simon Jordan says that the clubs should wait until any deals are to be made.

He said: "First we need to get the next tranche of £89.2m due in September and negotiate from there.

"Carlton and Granada don't want to liquidate their business because that would be hurtful for them but at the same time they are trying to pay as little as possible.

"If this goes to court, we'll take them for more than £178m.

"We could demand damages, costs and punitive damages, so they had better get their minds around that."