By Paul Holmes
July 16 2002

Premium TV (owned by NTL) have offered the Football League a restructured deal for the Official Football League club sites. NTL are currently in deep financial trouble and are keen to renegotiate the current agreement. At the moment NTL run all the official sites of all member clubs of the Football League. In return for this The Football League is paid £65 over a 5 year spell. £30million has already been paid but NTL cannot afford to pay the remaining £35million.

The proposed bid suggests that clubs write off the £35million in return for 80% of any profits. Currently the clubs gain 50% of any profits.

Football League Chief Executive David Burns said: “Both parties still hold a shared aim of delivering a stable and prosperous long-term future for their internet joint venture.

“However, with the downturn in the technology, media and telecommunications market and with NTL undergoing a financial restructuring process via chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, it is sensible that we have these discussions now to establish the viability of this ground-breaking twenty year venture so that it can fully deliver on its future commercial potential.”

This is another blow for Football League clubs following the reduced TV rights money.