TOWN'S efforts to put the club back on a stable financial footing have not been helped by the decision to place the ailing ITV Digital into administration.

Although director Bob Holt believes the loss of up to £300,000 will not actually cripple the club, he admits it will lead to a budget re-think.

Mr Holt said: "It is the last thing any of us in the Football League needed.

"Many clubs will already have budgeted for the television revenue agreed in the original contract."

The channel's main board approached the High Court after failing to renegotiate a broadcasting deal with the Football League.

Co-owners Carlton and Granada vowed to invest more cash to ensure subscribers continue to receive TV programmes through their set-top boxes.

But doubts are growing over whether the channel will have sufficient money to fulfil the contract agreed with football chiefs in June 2000.