Football: Rovers chase Ripley

BLACKBURN ROVERS, back in the buyer's market after losing Scott Sellars to Leeds, will today have talks with Stuart Ripley, Middlesbrough's former England Under-21 international winger.

If Ripley agrees to the pounds 1.3m deal, it is likely to have a knock-on effect in the transfer market, with Newcastle's attacker Gavin Peacock earmarked to replace him at Ayresome Park despite the interest of West Ham. Manchester City, who are known to be interested in Ripley, would have a place for him if their pounds 750,000-rated winger, Michael Hughes, makes permanent a trial at the French club Strasbourg.

Don Howe, who resigned as Coventry City's co-manager last month, starts work today as coach to Chelsea. Bobby Gould, now in sole charge of Coventry, also faces losing his captain, Stewart Robson, who like Howe is unwilling to continue commuting from his home in the South-east.