Premier problems: Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has admitted for the first time that plans for an "international round" of matches will have to be scrapped if they are opposed by Fifa and the English FA.

Scudamore insists, however, the controversial proposal for clubs to play a 39th game in a foreign city is not yet "a dead duck".

He was quizzed by a committee of MPs yesterday - some of whom described the plans variously as "daft", "barmy" and "bent".

The proposal has already been blasted by Fifa president Sepp Blatter - and FA chairman Lord Triesman told the British House of Commons culture, media and sport select committee there were a number of areas where they had major concerns.

Scudamore, who hopes to fly to Zurich next week to persuade Blatter of the benefits of the plan, said: "Clearly we are not going to take this forward if it in any way does not meet with some form of acquiescence from Fifa.

"Certainly the FA and the Football League will also have to be comfortable with whatever move and whatever direction we take. If it's deemed not to be worth it we will think again about our global expansion."

Coleman aims high

New Coventry manager Chris Coleman has vowed to move the club "in the right direction" after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal to take over the reins at the Ricoh Arena.

The former Fulham manager was confirmed as Iain Dowie's replacement by chairman Ray Ranson at a press conference yesterday.

First up for the Welshman will be the task of guiding City to Championship safety, with the club perilously perched above the drop zone in 20th place.

But he believes the infrastructure in place at the club has all the hallmarks of a Premier League side.

"I am very excited and very confident that eventually we can put the club in the right direction and we can do great things," he said.

"Obviously we have all the foundations in place, I think some have already been put in place. I want to build a team to be able to compete to play in the Premier League."

Mad at Madrid

Angry Bolton manager Gary Megson has slammed Atletico Madrid over a potential security breach ahead of his side's Uefa Cup return in the Spanish capital tomorrow night.

Bolton officials were stunned to find their entire trip itinerary - including their flight number and arrival time, plus the name of their hotel and training schedule - pasted on Atletico's official website.

The British Embassy in Madrid are looking into the incident with the visitors - who will defend a 1-0 lead following their famous win at the Reebok Stadium last week - fearing their programme could be deliberately disrupted.

Keen on Murphy

Sunderland manager Roy Keane has paid tribute to one of his unsung heroes after seeing him play a major role in the club's revival.

Republic of Ireland international Daryl Murphy has emerged as a key member of Keane's side in recent weeks as Sunderland have put together a run of excellent home form to drag themselves out of the immediate fight for Premier League survival.

Sunderland have won the last four home games on the trot, with Murphy having started three of them, and scored as many goals, to cement his place in the team.

The fact his run of form has come at a time when he was strongly linked with a move away from Wearside makes his contribution all the more creditable.

Keane said: "Daryl, particularly over the last four or five weeks, has been outstanding. I had a good chat with him. There was speculation he might be going here, there and everywhere. I had a chat and told him basically we are delighted with him and he is going nowhere.

"Players need that sometimes. Every player just sometimes needs a five-minute chat to say, 'Listen, we are delighted with you'. He's a good pro, he trains well, he looks like a footballer, he is a good athlete and he is doing well for us."

Playing percentages

English FA chairman Lord Triesman has raised the issue of limits on foreign players by saying it is imperative that Fabio Capello should be able to watch English players in Premier League matches. The England manager has made a point of the fact that only 38 per cent of players in the top flight are eligible for England.

"It's absolutely the least that we should expect that when someone who is the head England coach goes to a match, they should be in a position where they can see enough players who might be eligible to play for England," Triesman said yesterday.

Reading the signs

Reading have put plans to expand the Madejski Stadium on hold until their Premier League future is decided. The Royals have secured planning permission to increase the stadium capacity to 38,000 but are not prepared to commit themselves to the project while the club is battling against relegation.