UK Football League mulls action against advisers

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The UK's Nationwide Football League is considering taking legal action against advisers that worked on its ill-fated television deal with ITV Digital in a bid to recoup the E252 million it is owed by the collapsed broadcaster, according to a report in the Telegraph.

The League is understood to be examining the position of Hammonds, a London law firm that worked on the legal contract for the League's three-year E441 million deal with ITV Digital in 2000.It may also take action against Townleys, a sports rights adviser that worked independently for the League on the ITV Digital negotiations but is now part of Hammonds.

The broadcasting deal collapsed amid huge acrimony in March 2002 when ITV Digital went into administration after failing to reach agreement with the League over renegotiating the contract. The Football League only received £135m of the contract's value and failed in an attempt to recoup the remainder from ITV Digital's backers Granada and Carlton when the High Court ruled that they were not liable for ITV Digital's debts.