FORMER Kidderminster Harriers supremo Lionel Newton has warned of an impending catastrophe for football if ITV Digital cannot stump up its promised cash.

The ailing television broadcaster, backed by media giants Granada and Carlton, yesterday admitted that they could not afford to pay the £178million owed over the next two seasons to the Football League.

Newton, who quit as chairman of the Nationwide Division Three outfit earlier this month, believes many clubs are already on the brink and a massive reduction in income will simply push them over the edge.

ITV Digital wants to renegotiate the three-year £315 million pound television rights deal, only signed in 2000, to a more 'realistic' figure and is offering £50 million over the next two years instead of the £178 contractually agreed.

However, with most clubs having budgeted and spent their entitlement this season, a renegotiation would be a disaster for the sport says Newton.

"It would affect Kidderminster Harriers as everyone else in the Football League," he said.

"Everyone has allowed for a particular budget, taking into account the television revenues. If they go from £178 down to £50 million, it would make a massive difference. It would be absolutely catastrophic for the Third Division.

"All Harriers' players have their wages set against these monies and that would mean the club going into further losses to honour contracts.

"Then you have to look at more sponsorship or even putting the gate prices up. It just does not bear thinking about because you would simply have to restructure the whole Football League."

Newton, however, believes the only way ITV Digital can get out of the contract is to go bust, a situation which he says could finish 30-50 league clubs.

Harriers currently receive £20,000 a month but their slice of the pie would be drastically cut if ITV Digital's parent companies Granada and Carlton are allowed to wash their hands of the channel.

"Most players at Kidderminster are on two-year contracts so the money has already been spent," he added. "ITV Digital signed a legal contract so their only option is to go bust. The only other way for football is to accept this £50 million and then you will have 72 league clubs in serious trouble.

"Football's bubble has burst, there is no doubt about it," said Newton.