Shearer looks beyond 200

ITV Digital sale no surprise as League holds out for cash

LONDON (Reuters) -- The Football League is determined to hold out for the cash it is owed by ITV Digital despite the administrators' decision to sell the financially crippled pay-TV channel.

Deloitte and Touche put ITV Digital, owned by Carlton Communications and Granada, up for sale on Monday after weeks of trying to reach a compromise deal with the Football League, which is owed 178.5 million pounds (US$258.4 million) for the remaining two years of a three-year contract to screen its matches.

The decision means more uncertainty ahead for the 72 clubs in the first, second and third division, many of which could go bust if no money is forthcoming as they have already budgeted for the sums they are owed.

"This is a course of action we had anticipated," said the Football League's chief executive David Burns in a statement.

"It does not alter the league's determination to receive the full value of the 178.5 million pounds it is owed by Carlton and Granada."

Simon Jordon, chairman of first division club Crystal Palace, said the decision to sell the platform changed nothing.

"It doesn't leave us in any worse position than we were in," he told Sky News television.

"It is still relatively early doors ... There isn't any need to panic.

"I still believe that the biggest asset that exists within the confines of this platform is the digital product and there is two billion pounds at stake as well as the inherent responsibility that Carlton and Granada have to act properly," Jordon said.

Clubs in administration

Already many English clubs are under severe financial pressure, as costs such as player wages have spiralled.

Several, including the second division's Swindon Town and relegated Bury, and the third division's Lincoln City and Halifax Town, now dropped to the Conference, are already in the hands of administrators.

"This is a difficult time for the club but the board feels that this is the only way forward in the light of financial difficulties that have been brought to a head by the ITV Digital situation," Lincoln chairman Rob Bradley said in a statement earlier this month.

ITV Digital initially offered the Football League 50 million pounds to cover the final two years of the 315 million pound deal, which was agreed at the height of the media boom in June 2000.

This was rejected outright and the League says it has received no serious offer since then.

Burns and chairman Keith Harris had called for negotiations to take place with executives from Carlton and Granada, and hopes of a breakthrough were raised when the two sides met last Friday.

At a meeting of the 72 club chairmen at Manchester City's Maine Road ground last week, the League reiterated that it wanted to resolve the matter and receive the money it is owed.

The League has threatened to sue Carlton and Granada for up to 500 million pounds and has requested an official investigation into the business practice of the two companies by both the UK listing authority and the Independent Television Commission.

Geoffrey Richmond, chairman of Bradford City, said last week that legal action was "a last resort rather than a first resort," with Simon Jordon saying it should be avoided.

Burns said last week the League had a strategy in place for the short-term survival of the clubs, without going into details of the plan.

Newcastle's Shearer looking beyond 200

NEWCASTLE, England -- Newcastle United skipper Alan Shearer faces a challenge from manager Bobby Robson to score another 100 goals after scoring No. 200 on Saturday.

Shearer, 31, kicked in his 200th Premier League goal and 23rd of the season in a 3-0 victory over Charlton. He knows another 100 goals is a tall order from his 69-year-old coach.

"I'm not sure about another hundred," Shearer said. "I'll have to keep playing until I'm Bobby's age."

The former England skipper has two more years on his contract with Newcastle.

Shearer has taken himself out of international play after two knee operations, but despite some desire to play in the World Cup he says he made the right choice.

"Because of the injuries, it's impossible," Shearer said. "I do feel fresh and I feel the benefit of not playing with England, and obviously Newcastle are having the benefit as well."

Newcastle's win pushed it to one point short of Champions League qualification.

A draw with Blackburn on Tuesday would assure Robson's Magpies of a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and top European play next season.

The Magpies have failed to finish in the league's upper half in the last four seasons.

"The top six, the big ones, is where we are," Robson said. "We find ourselves fourth, which is a wonderful achievement."

Millwall, Birmingham approve visiting fans

LONDON -- Millwall and Birmingham fans will be allowed to watch their sides in first division playoffs on Sunday and Wednesday after team bosses discussed the hooligan issue.

Monday's Evening Standard newspaper said Birmingham managing director Karren Brady wanted the two-legged tie, at St. Andrews on Sunday and The Den on Wednesday, played only in front of home fans. Brady cited hooligan problems at past matches.

Millwall and Manchester City played under a similar arrangement this season in league play, and Brady was backing that plan for the playoffs. League rules, however, say that can only be done with the agreement of both teams and Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis opposed the fan ban.

"The Manchester City situation was totally different," Paphitis said. "We had solid intelligence then that there would be problems and that is why I reluctantly agreed to the banning of away fans. That is not the case with Birmingham."

Vialli fights for job at Watford

WATFORD, England -- Watford manager Gianluca Vialli is in a fight to keep his job after Sunday's 3-2 loss to Gillingham, and the club faces financial crisis from a rise in the wage bill.

Watford operating costs have risen by four million pounds (US$5.6 million) since Vialli took over from Graham Taylor last summer, and the team was counting on money from a television deal which is now in trouble.

With that in doubt, Vialli has been ordered to cut high-salary players like Marcus Gayle and Ramon Vega.

"Our situation is uncertain," Vialli said. "But if worst comes to worst comes to worst we have players clubs would want and I'm not worried."

Watford finished 14th at 16-19 with 11 draws in first division play.

Prosinecki goes to Japan

PORTSMOUTH, England -- Croatian international Robert Prosinecki is leaving first division Portsmouth for Japan's Grampus Eight club.

Prosinecki played for the south coast side for one season before making the switch, despite an appeal from Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric.

"I am sorry to leave Portsmouth, but I have an opportunity to go to Japan which I am excited about," Prosinecki said.

Tottenham seeks Eto'o

LONDON -- Tottenham Hotspur will offer Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o a seven million pounds (US$9.8 million) deal to replace Sergei Rebrov.

Rebrov, a Ukrainian international, will be moved out this summer. He played sparingly against Bolton on Saturday.

Spain's Real Mallorca is looking to sell Eto'o's contract for up to 10 million pounds (US$14 million), but Tottenham hopes to get him for less.

Di Canio season ends

LONDON -- Paolo Di Canio's knee injury ends his season at West Ham.

Ligament damage from the Charlton game two weeks ago eliminates his chance to play in the Premier League finale against Bolton on May 11.

Manager Glenn Roeder expects Frederic Kanoute to play in Di Canio's place on Wednesday against Arsenal, after missing Saturday's 3-0 win over Sunderland with a cold.

Tigana still in at Fulham

LONDON -- Fulham manager Jean Tigana maintains the backing of chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, despite a difficult first season in the Premier League.

Fulham is 14th, with speculation Monday that Tigana would leave next month with former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit said to be a ready replacement.

Fulham is 9-13 with 13 draws and was recently in danger of relegation.

Wimbledon coach wants to keep Ardley, Ainsworth

LONDON -- First division Wimbledon manager Terry Burton wants to keep experienced players Neal Ardley and Gareth Ainsworth, but budget-minded chairman Charles Koppel has other ideas.

"We must keep hold of as many experienced players as we can," Burton said.

Wimbledon finished ninth in the first division with 18 victories, 15 losses and 13 draws.

 

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.