The loss of ITV Digital cash would not be catastrophic to Southend United, club chief Ron Martin has declared.

The company wants to renegotiate its £315m TV deal signed last year but Football League bosses have thrown out the proposals.

The league insists it will pursue payment even if it means the station -- owned by Carlton and Granada -- is shut down.

Clubs are now waiting for the outcome of the wrangle amid claims that some will go to the wall if their share of the money is slashed.

But Mr Martin, chairman and chief exectutive of Blues' major shareholder Martin Dawn plc, said the Shrimpers will not be one of them.

"If they do renegotiate it will be a pimple on our budget but not catastrophic," said Mr Martin.

"It will not affect the financial stability of Southend United but for those clubs without benefactors it will be serious. This could be the straw which breaks the camel's back.

"Our finances have improved dramatically overthe last 18 months but if ITV Digital was not there and there was no replacement it would be a burden. However, it will not collapse the club."

Southend, along with other Third Division clubs, currently receive around £180,000 a season from the deal, which is in the first year of a 36-month term.

But there are suggestions that this could be cut to £40,000 or £50,000 a season over the remaining two years if the deal is renegotiated.

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Published Monday, March 25, 2002