Depending on the nature of the deal struck between ITV and the Premier League for highlights of Premiership soccer, RTE may be left out in the cold even if they are prepared to pay substantially more for Irish screening rights.

There is a possibility that Ulster Television, part of the independent television network ITV, will have the rights to screen Premiership soccer highlights in Ireland, to the exclusion of RTE, when their three-year deal begins in 2001. ITV topped the BBC with a £183 million bid for the broadcast rights. RTE are negotiating with ITV to see if there is any way that they retain their Premiership coverage. It has not yet been established whether ITV's deal with the Premiership is for British screening rights only or includes Ireland.

"ITV will not be as quick to hand over the rights as BBC," an industry spokesman said. "RTE got incredibly good value. But this time it may not be an issue of price because of UTV (being a direct competitor). Then again if the money is right. . ."

Meanwhile, the English FA have announced that the BBC and BSkyB will share coverage of the FA Cup and England's home internationals from 2001/2002.

Under the terms of the deal - worth £440 million over three years - all of England's competitive senior matches will be shown live on BSkyB with competitive and friendly highlights on BBC1..

In the FA Cup, selected matches will be live on BBC1 and BSkyB with all matches on Saturday/Sunday only and replays in the same week.

George Graham yesterday insisted he would be delighted if David Ginola stayed at Tottenham - and told the Frenchman any move would be his own decision.

Ginola's career at White Hart Lane seemed to be over after the club confirmed they had accepted an offer, believed to be around £3 million, for the Frenchman from Aston Villa. But Spurs manager Graham said the 33-year-old could still figure prominently in his plans for next season.