As the troubled TV giants prepared a final ultimatum for the clubs, Wenger said: "If the little clubs die then we all die."
The 72 League chairmen will receive a letter today from the troubled TV station's chief executive Stuart Prebble.
ITV Digital threaten to pull plug next Saturday
As the troubled TV giants prepared a final ultimatum for the clubs, Wenger said: "If the little clubs die then we all die."
The 72 League chairmen will receive a letter today from the troubled TV station's chief executive Stuart Prebble.
It warns that if they do not accept the new deal then the sports channel will close down next Saturday.
Wenger last night joined the row and expressed his fears for the future of the game. He said: "The Premiership is the elite but the lower divisions are the base upon which football is built on and if one dies the other one dies as well."
Mirror Sport understands that main shareholders Granada and Carlton will pull the plug on ITV Digital unless they can resolve the £315million contract row by next Friday. The letters were sent to the home of every chairman and are designed to shock them into accepting £128m less - or risk not receiving another penny.
ITV Digital's no-nonsense approach comes just 24 hours after Football League chairman Keith Harris vowed not to cave in under the TV company's demands to renegotiate the contract.
But Harris will now inevitably face worried chairmen whose clubs are threatened by the reduction in TV cash - but could go to the wall if they do not get anything.
ITV Digital's seven-day deadline to renegotiate the contract sent Carlton's share price rocketing yesterday. The company's value rose by £70m - more than they are trying to save on this year's pay-out.
One ITV Digital insider said last night: "Make no mistake - unless the Football League renegotiates then we will be out of business well before the end of the season."
ITV Digital is also confident that their contract with the League is not guaranteed by shareholders Granada and Carlton which would leave clubs chasing the missing money through the courts.
Wenger believes the knock-on effect to the big clubs from the Football League TV contract row will be devastating. He insists the days of mega TV contracts are over and fears the worst for the Premiership in future.