The administrators of ITV Digital were today meeting Independent Television Commission executives to discuss how best to sell the loss-making broadcaster.

Deloitte & Touche said yesterday it had "not been possible" to restructure ITV Digital's cost base and so was putting the business up for sale, increasing fears for the future of some Football League clubs.

Today the administrators were holding talks with the ITC, the body which licenses and regulates commercially-funded television in the UK, in an effort to sell off the business as a going concern as quickly as possible.

An ITC spokeswoman said: "The administrators want to sell the licence for the business. Our consent is needed for any deal to make sure it complies with ownership rules.

"The meeting will discuss the procedure required to sell the licence but we will be doing all we can to help and trying to make it a speedy process.

"An announcement is expected on Thursday and it's clear a lot of talking will be done between now then and now."

The ITC added viewers who receive TV services via ITV Digital would not lose them while the sale process goes on.

Administrator Nick Dargon said: "We are now in discussions with the Independent Television Commission about an accelerated process leading to a sale as a going concern."

ITV Digital is co-owned by broadcasters Granada and Carlton Communications and was put into voluntary administration last month.

Despite a hugely popular advertising campaign featuring knitted mascot Monkey, it has struggled to sign up subscribers amid tough competition from the likes of BSkyB.

ITV Digital struck a three-year £315 million deal with the Football League in June 2000 to show Nationwide League games, But it was hit by the slow take-up of its service and mounting debts, and said last month it could no longer afford to pay the remaining £178.5 million still owing.

The League in turn said a host of football clubs faced collapse if the full amount was not paid, and has since turned down lesser offers from ITV Digital.