Venables in the frame at QPR

Queen's Park Rangers will select their successor to Ray Wilkins from a shortlist of three high-profile names- strongly rumoured to include that of former England coach Terry Venables.

Rangers' new owner, Chris Wright, suggested at the weekend that a new manager would be installed at Loftus Road before Wednesday's game at Norwich.

Venables, who is currently working in a consultancy capacity for Portsmouth, and the former Arsenal manager George Graham have been linked with the post, as has the Blackburn manager, Ray Harford. Venables managed Rangers from 1980-84 before leaving to take over at Barcelona.

Blackburn are prepared to offer the German international striker Oliver Bierhoff a pounds 2m-a-year deal to persuade him to forsake Italy for England. But Bierhoff, watched by Harford against Internazionale at the weekend, said: "I see my future in Italy. If Bayern Munich, Blackburn or Parma wanted me, I would choose Parma."

After firing three blanks in four games, Blackburn's need for a new striker to replace Alan Shearer is obvious. Harford has one advantage over Parma in that they cannot sign Bierhoff until November, due to restrictions on transfers in the Italian league, whereas Harford can buy him now. Ultimately, Chris Sutton may solve the problems for Blackburn - he is now back to full fitness after an ankle injury and could figure in tonight's home game against Derby.

England must overhaul a 2-1 first leg defeat to Spain in Montilla yesterday if they are to qualify for next June's women's European Championship finals. To protect a two-goal lead, Spain relied heavily on the former Arsenal goalkeeper Rosa Serra, who denied England five clear-cut chances. Hope Powell gave her side hope for the second leg at Prenton Park on 29 September with a 63rd minute goal.