BT deny making bid for matches

British Telecom yesterday denied reports they are about to launch a £1.3 billion bid to buy Premier League football's television rights.

The communications company were said to be interested in landing the package when BSkyB's current £670 million deal expires in 2001.

But a BT spokesman moved quickly to quash speculation.

"We deny any knowledge of this whatsoever," he said.

The current deal, which still has 18 months to run, sold BSkyB the rights to show a limited number of live Premiership games each season for £670 million and sold the BBC the rights to screen same-day highlights for £70 million.

BT were reportedly keen to secure the Premier League rights because it would put them in such a powerful position when restrictions are lifted in 2001, allowing television pictures to be transmitted through phone lines.

The BBC are eager to hold on to their rights to show Premiership highlights on Saturday night's Match of the Day and look certain to have to increase their successful £70 million bid from last time.

Mark Hughes last night agreed a deal with the Football Association of Wales to secure the job as their new national team boss.

The Southampton veteran, with his agent Dennis Roach, met key FAW councillors at a hotel in Shrewsbury to thrash out the terms of a four-and-a-half year contract.

The first 18 months of that will be as part-time manager while he completes his Premiership career with the Saints.

It will now go to the next FAW full council meeting at Llangollen on December 16th to be rubberstamped by members.

Robbie Fowler is highly unlikely to need further ankle surgery and he could be back in action in a fortnight.

The Liverpool star had a precautionary scan yesterday after complaining of soreness on his troublesome ankle following a reserve game at Barnsley the night before when he netted a hat-trick in a 6-2 victory.

But the results from the specialist have confirmed that there is no serious problem with Fowler's recovery from an ankle operation six weeks ago.