Soccer offer U-turn stuns League

FOOTBALL League chief executive David Burns today expressed disbelief at the decision by the administrators acting for ITV Digital to withdraw their £74m offer to settle their television rights dispute.

With chairmen from the 72 Nationwide League clubs due to meet at Manchester City's Maine Road ground to discuss the proposal today, Deloitte & Touche sprung a surprise last night by removing the offer from the table.

Burns and League chairman Keith Harris had expected at the very least to receive official confirmation from the administrators of the offer made late last Thursday. It had already dismissed the deal - £62m for the last two years plus an option to buy a further year of rights for £12m - as unacceptable but under the League's rules was obliged to put it to the 72 members.

But Deloitte's statement to the Stock Exchange today said: 'The administrators of ITV Digital have been assessing the impact of the lack of progress in negotiations with the Football League on the company's business plan. It is now apparent that this has dissuaded some other suppliers from seriously engaging in restructuring discussions. The shareholders are re-evaluating the business plan and therefore no formal offer has been made to the Football League.'

Burns said: 'As of right now there's nothing for the members to consider. It's rather surprising because we have gathered the clubs together to deal with this difficult issue.

'The actions of Carlton and Granada (ITV Digital's parent companies) places enormous stress on a number of football clubs. It's hard to know what they are seeking to gain by doing this. Today was the day to try and do a deal.'