Colchester United director John Worsp has welcomed the new Nationwide League TV deal which could net the U's a £1.8 million bonanza.

Worsp said: "The deal is a Godsend to a small club like Colchester United. The increase on the previous deal is quite substantial and suffice to say we should benefit greatly from it."

In the latest three-year deal for the rights to screen Nationwide and Worthington Cup games, the U's and the other 23 Division Two clubs will receive £600,000 each season from 2001.

First Division clubs will receive £3.3 million a year with Division Three clubs pocketing £396,000.

The deal, signed jointly with ITV and ONdigital, is worth £315 million - four times as much to the Nationwide League as the previous television agreement.

Extra revenue will be created from the proceeds of pay-per-view matches.

Worsp said: "It is very exciting, but it is so important Colchester United maintain their Division Two status to benefit from the deal.

"As we normally budget for a loss of around £250,000 per season much of the money will be spent on the general running of the club."

ONdigital will show a minimum of 88 games from the First, Second and Third Divisions, plus the Worthington Cup on pay television.

ITV will broadcast 15 regional matches, plus one First Division play-off semi-final, the final and the Worthington Cup final.

In addition, the League has also agreed a £65 million, five-year deal with cable TV company ntl to provide an internet portal for all 72 Nationwide clubs.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.