DOZENS of Football League chairmen will descend on Carlton headquarters next week to protest about the collapse of ITV Digital.

Some of the most powerful people in football will be reduced to waving placards and banners on the street in a bid to make their voices heard.

Football League clubs are owed a total of £178.5million from ITV Digital, which went into administration in April. The chairmen believe Carlton and Granada are liable for the digital TV stations' debts - and they are determined to get what they are owed.

Burnley chairman Barry Kilby will not be joining his counterparts as he is in America but chief executive Andrew Watson will take his place for the protest outside Carlton's Knightsbridge headquarters next Wednesday.

And just two days later, on Friday July 12, it will be the Clarets fans' turn to show their support.

It is hoped the majority of the 400 members of the London branch of the Supporters' Club will go to the protest and Watson urged others to join them.

Watson said: "The Football League are trying to step up the moral side of the campaign - to go alongside the court action - by having each of the clubs' chairmen going to the Carlton and Granada headquarters next week.

"We will be standing outside with banners and there will be some famous people there.

"And then each day after that, for 12 days, fans from six clubs each day will go down to protest."

Watson said Burnley were owed £2million - due in August - and more should have been coming as matches were screened throughout the season.

"That is a massive chunk of anyone's money," he said. "Even clubs with wealthy benefactors wouldn't be able to afford to lose £2million."

The dispute centres on the collapse of ITV Digital, which was set up by Granada Media and Carlton Communications.

The Football League last year signed a three-year £315million deal with the digital TV station for the rights to screen League matches.

And £178.5million of the debt was still outstanding when ITV Digital went into administration in April.

The Football League filed a claim for the money in the High Court against Carlton and Granada, claiming that they were liable for ITV Digital's debts.

"Granada and Carlton wanted this contract, they outbid Sky for it and now they should pay up," said Watson.

FANS have until Monday, July 8, to put their names to a petition protesting about the refusal of Granada and Carlton to pay ITV Digital's debt.

Petitions can be signed at Turf Moor and Turf Moor in Town.

Thousands of fans across the country have signed similar petitions at their respective clubs.

The Football League will deliver the petitions to Downing Street.

"Hopefully there will be millions of signatures," said Watson. "I urge all fans to write to their MPs as well."