Albion's assistant boss Bob Booker today admitted the failure of the Football League to win their legal battle over the collapse of ITV Digital is a 'massive blow' to smaller clubs.

The League claimed they were owed £178.5 million by ITV Digital's parent companies Carlton and Grenada after the channel closed down in April.

Their case was based on the argument that the original bid document included the wording "ONDigital and its shareholders will guarantee all funding to the FL."

However, this statement was never ratified in the final contract did not constitute a binding agreement which did not stand up in court.

Booker said: "It's a massive blow, even when you think you're out of the water, especially for the lower league clubs.

"Luckily enough a club in our position won't be affected too badly and we're hoping we're still in good stead."