Football: TV sets up triple header

SKY plan to capture the finale of the Premier League championship race by moving the last fixtures of the three challenging clubs, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Norwich City, to Sunday afternoon, 9 May. All matches will kick- off simultaneously and Sky will have cameras at all three grounds.

United visit Wimbledon, Aston Villa are at Queen's Park Rangers and Norwich at Middlesbrough. 'The fans,' said Craig Brewin of the Football Supporters' Association, 'can like it or lump it. Football sold its soul months ago and this is a consequence that will please no one but those with satellite dishes.'

Adrian Cook, the Premier League's assistant secretary, said: 'We can't televise on Saturdays without affecting Football League and Scottish League attendances. We have to decide, in the next fortnight, which matches to switch, in order to inform the police.'

The three leading clubs could play simultaneously only twice in the next eight weeks: this coming weekend and on that last weekend.

Although Colin Hendry has a stitched eyebrow he will be fit to play in tonight's FA Cup replay at Bramall Lane where Sheffield United face Blackburn Rovers. Kevin Moran is expected to return to the defence while the Blades will choose between Alan Cork and Adrian Littlejohn as a replacement for the suspended Brian Deane.

Derby will be bringing 7,000 supporters tomorrow for their FA Cup replay against Sheffield Wednesday. The Rams have not won at Hillsbrough since 1936.

Cambridge United have paid Cobh Ramblers pounds 12,000 for Pat Keane, the 19-year-old brother of Nottingham Forest's Roy Keane.

Third Division York City and Bristol Rovers will know the immediate future of the manager, John Ward, after an injunction preventing him from joining Rovers is tested in court on Monday. York are alleging breach of a contract that specified a three-months' notice of severance.

York say that Rovers first approached Ward last November and again last week but no approach was made to the club until 9 March. Three days later Ward left York to join Rovers on what is supposed to be a three-year contract.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD (v Germany, Uefa Under-21 Championship, at Baumtal, 23 March): Colgan (Chelsea) McKenna (UCD), Dunn (Dundalk), Hardy (Wrexham), McCarthy (Brighton), Greene (Luton), Breen (Gillingham), Kinsella (Colchester), Dempsey (Gillingham), McGrath (Shamrock Rovers), Kavanagh (Middlesbrough), Toal (Manchester United), Turner (Tottenham), Sheridan (Coventry), Kelly (Leeds United), Power (Norwich), J Gallen (Watford), S Gallen (QPR), Moore (Middlesbrough), Bacon (Derry City).