Football

Ipswich Town have signed Bobby Petta, Feyenoord's 21-year-old midfield player, on a free transfer for three years.

Steve Taylor, bought for pounds 90,000 by Crystal Palace from Bromsgrove last summer, has returned to the GM Vauxhall Conference by joining Hednesford on a free transfer.

Blackburn have announced a multi-million pound shirt sponsorship deal with the Co-operative Insurance Society. The CIS initials will appear on Rovers' new-look kit, which was unveiled yesterday.

Phil Brown, the former Bolton manager, celebrates his 39th birthday today by rejoining the club as first-team coach. Brown, who has spent the last two seasons as player-coach with Second Division Blackpool, made more than 300 appearances for Bolton after joining them in 1988.