TELEVISION companies Carlton and Granada were facing the wrath of the Football League today as club representatives protested outside their London offices.

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally will join the march planned to raise awareness of the Football League’s High Court battle to recoup the £178.5million it lost with the collapse of ITV Digital.

Club chairmen, or representatives acting on their behalf, are expected to form a picket outside the Knightsbridge and South Bank headquarters of the two media giants, the parent companies behind the defunct channel.

The protestors will apparently be joined by a giant advertising hoarding mounted on a truck with the slogan “Football League Health Warning: Carlton & Granada may seriously damage your sport”.

The clubs will then keep up the pressure with 12 days of further action outside the same offices, with six clubs designated to appear on each day.

Mr Scally said: “The behaviour of Carlton and Granada is totally unacceptable. I believe they should now do the right thing and pay us the difference between the deal we've just signed and the deal they contracted for.

“Because what they've done is to destroy the fabric of football. Sky have come in and paid the market values. But while those market values are greatly appreciated, the figure is still substantially less than the deal that was contracted for."”

However, Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis has labelled the demonstration “an entirely redundant exercise” and insists he will not be attending.

Paphitis said: “It is an entirely redundant exercise and must be music to the ears of Carlton and Granada. It is completely irrelevant. I certainly will not be going because I’ve got more important things to do - I will see them in court.”

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan believes grabbing the headlines could help clubs win their case when it comes to court on July 26.

He said: “It’s all about creating media attention because public opinion makes a big difference. I find it hard to see why Carlton and Granada won’t come to the negotiating table because this could be very damaging for them. They could face public condemnation.”

Meanwhile, the Football League insist the protest has the backing of its members.

Spokesman John Nagle said: “This demonstration was organised at the behest of the clubs who, when they met for their AGM and summer conference, demanded that they had the opportunity to protest directly at the offices and that’s why it’s taking place.

“We have tried to seek meetings with Carlton and Granada on numerous occasions and been knocked back and it was decided that the clubs would go and see them directly.”

The Football League have now secured a £95million deal with BSkyB to televise matches for the next four years.

But some chairmen, including Jordan, are unhappy with the agreement.

He said: “We have had to accept a lower deal. To go from £2.7million to £500,000 over four years is disgusting for my club.

“I don’t see this new money as a bonus - it is a disappointment, but we are all last-chance charlies at the moment.”