FOOTBALL IN BRIEF: BBC SET TO RIVAL SKY WITH OWN SPORTS CHANNEL

l The BBC has revealed plans to launch a dedicated sports channel. A rival to Sky Sports, the proposed service would cover major and minor sports in greater depth than BBC1 and BBC2 manage now. It could also show live Premier League football.

l The former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier is in talks with Paris St-Germain and could soon join the club as a technical adviser. The Frenchman coached PSG to their first title in 1986.

l The Derby County manager George Burley has ended speculation by signing a 12-month contract extension. Burley had been linked with a move to West Ham United.

l The Scottish Third Division club Albion Rovers are to charge scouts from other clubs to watch games next season. The club secretary, John Reynolds, said: "We had 32 scouts at one match last season and it's ridiculous."

l Billy Baker, the last player to appear for Cardiff both pre- and post- Second World War, has died at the age of 84.

l Robert Hoyzer has been banned from refereeing on the grounds of gross sporting misconduct, two weeks after admitting fixing matches in Germany. The provisional ban from the German Federation is the first formal sanction against the referee.