League chiefs quit

Burns (right) has stepped down from his position

The Football League's two leading executives have resigned over the ITV Digital fiasco which has left some clubs facing financial ruin.

Chairman Keith Harris and chief executive David Burns both announced they were quitting on Tuesday.

Both had been under pressure since 1 August when a High Court judge ruled Carlton and Granada were not liable for the £178.5m owed to the League by ITV Digital.

Football presses self-destruct

Why they were forced to quit:

The loss of the court case left the Football League facing legal bills in excess of £1m.

A number of club chairmen were also unhappy at the new £95m television deal struck by the pair with BSkyB last month.

The chairmen claimed the four-year deal sold the League short, and also tied them too far into the future.

In a statement, Burns defended his record as chief executive, pointing out that the ITV Digital deal was brokered before he took up the post.

"Throughout my 21 months as chief executive, I have worked tirelessly to improve the League's position commercially and politically, to raise and enhance its public image and to ensure fair media representation," he said.