Albion joined fellow Football League clubs in a mass protest over the collapsed ITV Digital deal.

Chief executive Martin Perry and representatives of almost all of the 72 League clubs picketed yesterday outside the London offices of Carlton and Granada, the parent companies behind the defunct channel.

The protest was planned to raise awareness of the Football League's High Court battle to recoup the £178.5million it lost with the downfall of ITV Digital.

Perry said: "The withdrawal of this funding has had very serious implications for every single Football League club.

"Some are affected more than others and there is a very real danger some clubs could go to the wall.

"Football clubs have an enormous impact on their communities and the damage to both the clubs and their communities would be immense.

"As far as we are concerned an agreement was entered into and if one side finds that things are not working as they had expected it is simply not on for them to turn their back on the contract."

Clubs are keeping up the pressure with 12 days of further action outside the same offices, with six clubs designated to appear on each day. Albion's turn comes tomorrow and the supporters' club has organised a coach.

Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis refused to attend yesterday's demonstration.

"It is an entirely redundant exercise and must be music to the ears of Carlton and Granada," he said. "It is completely irrelevant. I've got more important things to do. I will see them in court."

Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan, who was represented by the club's secretary, believes grabbing the headlines could help clubs win their case when it comes to court on July 26.

"It's all about creating media attention because public opinion makes a big difference," he said. "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."

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

Some chairmen, including Jordan, are unhappy with the agreement. "We have had to accept a lower deal," he said. "To go from £2.7million to £500,000 over four years is disgusting for my club.

"I think the deal accentuates the exposure of our losses, which have been substantial.

"I don't see this new money as a bonus. It is a disappointment, but we are all last-chance charlies at the moment."