Rochdale hire Hollins until end of season

Rochdale have appointed the former Swansea manager, John Hollins, to fill the post left vacant by Steve Parkin's departure for Barnsley a month ago.

The former Chelsea, Queen's Park Rangers and Arsenal player will take over from the caretaker manager, David Hamilton, at the Third Division club. Hamilton will continue as first-team coach, with Jamie Hoyland reverting to coach of the youth side. Hollins, sacked by Swansea in September, has been offered a contract until the end of the season.

Ipswich's Titus Bramble has cast doubt on his long-term future by turning down the club's offer of a two-year contract extension. The 20-year-old centre-back has more than two years left on his existing deal, which expires in the summer of 2004.

The Leicester defender Gerry Taggart will miss the rest of the season. The Northern Ireland international was expected to return in February, nine months after a knee operation. However, the 31-year-old defender is to have further surgery.

Middlesbrough's goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer, will travel to London for a hernia operation tomorrow and is likely to be out of action for around six weeks. The 29-year-old returned from Australia's World Cup play-off tie with Uruguay struggling with a groin injury.

QPR have confirmed they are in ground-sharing talks with Fulham. The Premiership club want to use Loftus Road as a temporary base next season while they build a £70m ground.