Sky's "pounds 125m deal"

The Endsleigh League has agreed a five-year deal worth pounds 125m with Sky Sports for live coverage of matches on Friday nights and Sundays, it was reported last night.

With the apparent deal, which could bring First Division clubs pounds 1m each, Sky has cut across the dispute between the Football Association and the Premier League over which could negotiate a better TV contract for the Endsleigh clubs.

The Coca-Cola Cup is included in a deal, which will bring live coverage of 48 First Division matches and 12 from the Second and Third Division each season, starting with 1996-97.