Football in brief

* The Chelsea defender John Terry will catch a flight in time for tonight's game at Blackburn Rovers after making a court appearance in London this morning. Terry's latest hearing on charges following a nightclub incident was delayed due to the Queen Mother's funeral and is now set to be held this morning.

* The Fulham striker Barry Hayles can play in this weekend's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea despite receiving a three-match ban from the Football Association after clashing with the West Ham defender Hayden Foxe in a Premiership game last November. Pending an appeal, the ban is set to start on 29 April meaning Hayles could miss the final if Fulham beat their London rivals.

* Arsenal are set to intensify contract talks with Patrick Vieira in the wake of the midfielder's call for the club to resolve his future before the World Cup.

* The Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has reassured his chairman Ken Bates that he has no intention of joining Barcelona this summer.

* The Valencia president Jaime Orti has denied any possible move for the Leeds United striker Mark Viduka.

* First Division Burnley have extended the loan spell of the Nottingham Forest striker David Johnson until the end of the season.

* Bristol Rovers have sacked manager Garry Thompson after just four months in charge. The club lie third from bottom of the Third Division.

* Halifax Town could be put into administration in the next few days after the chairman Bob Walker admitted the club were running out of options.