Football news in brief

Brechin City manager Jim Weir has added to his pool by bringing in Aberdeen's young Irish striker Anthony Bolger on loan for a month to help in the absence of long-term injury victim Charlie King prior to the transfer window opening again in January.

Weir, who will also be missing top scorer Rory McAllister for two games through suspension, is also closing in on former Motherwell front man Mark Archdeacon, who had a period on loan at Glebe Park last season with the free agent signing on until January.

Ferguson named Dumbarton No2

Dumbarton's newly-appointed interim manager Alan Adamson has brought in former Rangers, Hearts and Scotland midfielder and one-time Stranraer manager Derek Ferguson to be his assistant.

Ferguson started work last night alongside Adamson and former Morton assistant manager Allan McManus, who has been given a player/coach role by the club for whom he has played since being released by the Greenock side at the end of last season.

Adamson said: "Derek has lots of experience and we understand each other."

Lennon refuses to release Ki to Korea

CELTIC have refused permission for Ki Sung-Yong to play in the Asian Games.

The South Korean midfielder was named in the original 20-man squad. However, the Parkhead side have refused to release Ki for the tournament next month in Guangzhou, China.

The event - which is open to players under 24 - is not played on FIFA-recognised dates and so Neil Lennon is entitled to withdraw Ki from the squad. South Korean Under 23 boss Hong Myung-bo said: "I understand Celtic's concerns for this and why they have taken him out of the squad."

U-21s to face Northern Ireland

Scotland Under-21s will play Northern Ireland in a friendly at Firhill next month.

The match on Wednesday, 17 November, which will kick off at 7.30pm, gives Billy Stark's men a chance to bounce back following defeat to Iceland in the play-offs for the Under-21 European Championship.

Stark said: "After the disappointment of missing out on next summer's finals in Denmark we must now pick ourselves up and look towards the next campaign. With that in mind we are delighted to be bringing Northern Ireland to Glasgow in November."