A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

Salary cap may be unavoidable

CHAMPIONSHIP clubs are considering a salary cap to help prevent spiralling financial losses as the economy heads into a recession.

Most clubs in English soccer's second tier are losing significant money because they pay what one chairman described as "unsustainable" wages to players they hope will win them promotion to the Premier League.

Without the cushion of the multimillion-pound television deal enjoyed by the 20 Premier League clubs, Championship clubs are reporting tougher economic conditions, with away gates beginning to suffer and sponsorships and corporate hospitality harder to secure.

Bulgaria sack coach and may look abroad for successor

THE REPUBLIC of Ireland's World Cup Group Eight rivals Bulgaria have sacked national coach Plamen Markov and could look abroad for a replacement, the nation's football federation (BFU) declared yesterday.

"It was a tough decision but all 13 (executive committee) members voted for Markov's departure," BFU president Borislav Mihaylov said yesterday before referring to a replacement: "It could be a Bulgarian coach but it's not impossible to hire a top-class foreigner."

The 51-year-old Markov has been released after three disappointing draws in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and a 6-1 loss against Serbia in a friendly last month

Bulgaria are third in Group Eight with three points from three games behind Italy and Ireland, who they play in Dublin next March.

Real pay €27m for Huntelaar

REAL Madrid have reached an agreement to sign Netherlands striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar from Ajax Amsterdam, the Spanish champions claimed yesterday.

The 25-year-old, who will sign a contract until 2013, will not be available for Real until January when he will be available to replace compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

In a separate statement, Ajax said Real would pay up to €27 million, made up of a €20 million fixed payment and a €7 million variable payment.

Huntelaar's first appearance for the side will depend on how quickly he recovers from an ankle injury that has sidelined him since the beginning of last month.

The news will come as a much -needed lift for an injury-ravaged Real Madrid who have put in a string of unimpressive performances recently to leave them trailing in fourth place in the Primera Liga.

Heskey set for Wigan departure

EMILE Heskey appears poised to leave Wigan in January following the latest remarks from the club's chairman Dave Whelan.

Heskey is out of contract next summer and has so far shown no sign of urgency to put pen to paper on a new deal.

With the 30-year-old having rekindled his career at Wigan of late, thrusting himself back into the fold with England, Whelan appears eager to cash in rather than lose him for nothing next summer.

"Emile is out of contract in the summer, but he doesn't want to sign a new one at the moment," said Whelan.

"It could cost us two, three or four million (pounds) if that goes on to next summer, so we'll have to see what January brings."

Heskey cost Wigan a club record €6.5 million when he joined from Birmingham in the summer of 2006. He has scored has scored 15 goals in 81 league and cup appearances.

Everton might lure Larsson

FORMER Celtic and Manchester United striker Henrik Larsson would consider a return to the English Premier League amid reports he is a target for Everton.

The 37-year-old free agent said: "I am a free agent and have not yet decided what to do next

. . . I have not completely closed my mind to the idea of going abroad again."