The Premier League is to consider setting up its own pay-per-view channel as one of several options on the sale of televised matches. It follows yesterday's decision by the cable television company NTL to withdraw from a stg£328 million deal to screen pay-per-view matches from next season.

The 20 Premiership chairmen were supposed to be meeting in London today to discuss how to divide proceeds from the next television deal which, until NTL's withdrawal, was worth a total of £1.6 billion over three years starting from the 2001-02 season, a minimum of £5 million a season to each Premiership club. The American-owned company's withdrawal has now blown a considerable hole in the clubs' funds.

If the chairmen reject the option to set up their own pay-per-view channel, it is believed that BSkyB - one of the original companies bidding to screen pay-per-view matches - and ONdigital, who both lost out to NTL, may be allowed to re-enter the race.

It was decided that no broadcaster would be allowed more than one category of rights, but Premier League chairmen may now have to change their own rules. BSkyB would be one of the favourites to win the right to screen pay-per-view matches, given that it already has the technology in place and is accustomed to televising football. The media company has already paid £1.1 billion to retain the rights to show live football on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings. ITV paid £183 million over three years for the highlights.

Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, said: "We all worked long and hard at it [the deal with NTL] in good faith and there is always an element of disappointment when you cannot reach an agreement. The outlook for the FA Premier League is, however, very positive. We are very confident that we still have a very valuable asset. We are looking to maximise what we can get for this piece of pie."

Joe Royle feels Richard Dunne could prove a snip at £3 million after the defender completed his move from Everton to Manchester City yesterday. Royle is pleased to be reunited with Dunne after he gave the versatile defender, who can play centre half or right back, his Everton debut as a 17-year-old back in January 1997.

"I've watched him progress from afar and I've seen him in his last two internationals when he did exceptionally well. He's 21 and he's got a lot of years in front of him and I think £3 million for a current international centre half rates as good business for us. I remember telling Mick McCarthy when he made his debut for Everton that we had a centre half for the future and it's always nice when that comes true."

Dunne fell out with Everton manager Walter Smith because he played him at right back and in recent months their relationship deteriorated. Despite this sour end to his Everton career, Dunne insisted he bore no grudges against Smith.

"I was disappointed that I never got the chance to prove myself at centre-half at Everton," Dunne said. "The manager knew I was a centre-half but said he needed me to cover at right-back. But I have no problem with him. I got on well with him. The press blow things up, but there's no problem between us.

Royle intends to play Dunne at centre-half. "I've bought him as a centre-half but the fact that he can play right-back is useful as well," he said. "I felt we needed another young centre-half and he was too good to miss."

George Weah is set to join Olympique Marseille following his acrimonious exit from Manchester City. Weah says he will end his playing career after spending the rest of the season with Marseille.

Celtic have completed the signing of Robert Douglas from Dundee for £1 million with an additional £200,000 to follow based on appearances.