Rumour Mill: Joe Ledley | Champions League

Joe Ledley looks set for the Parkhead exit. Picture: Robert Perry

Crystal Palace eye up Joe Ledley

The Premiership side are looking to add to their squad as they battle with relegation and believe a cut-price Ledley could be the man to shore up their midfield. The Welsh international would cost as little as £500,000 as his deal is set to expire in the summer and he has yet to sign a new one. Ledley is reported to be on the short lists of a number of Premiership clubs. (Record)

Celtic rebuilding for Champions League

Parkhead assistant manager Johan Mjallby confirmed that Neil Lennon is actively looking to rebuild his current squad ahead of next season’s Champions League campaign. The Swede says Celtic are keen to bed down players early and are keen to make a number of January additions.

Celtic have already signed Iceland Under-21 striker Holmbert Fridjonsson a four year deal from Fram Reykjavik and have opened talks with Partick defender Aaron Taylor-Sinclair. Lennon has also flown out to Holland to watch Heerenveen’s £6m rated striker Alfred Finnbogason. (Express)

Ally McCoist in dark over cuts

The Ibrox manager said he was in the dark as to whether his squad would be severely cut in January following last weeks’ AGM where chief executive Graham Wallace warned the club was living outwith its means and that costs would have to be cut. (Mail)

• Nottingham Forest are lining up a bid for Rangers defender Lee Wallace believed to be in the region of £1m. (Sun)

• McCoist says he has no regrets over gifting his vote in last week’s AGM to an East Kilbride suppporters’ club. The Ibrox manager says he felt he was in a “no win” situation with a sizeable number of supporters against the current board.

He says he is unaware of how the supporter group voted and says that he wanted to keep the board’s reaction to his decision to himself. (Scotsman)

• The Rangers manager has also urged the current board to accept an offer of investment from former director Dave King

Police deny lifting Celtic banner ban

Celtic and Police Scotland clashed yesterday after the Parkhead club released a statement to declare that supporters could display flags and banners during their away match against St Johnstone. Police Scotland responded hours later to say that the ban had not been lifted.

The row stems from a statement released by the Perth club earlier which said that the measure was being brought in to stop flares being smuggled into the stadium. (Scotsman)

Poland test for Strachan’s Scotland

Scotland’s first confirmed international fixture of 2014 will be against Poland. The away fixture will serve as preparation for Gordon Strachan’s side as they look to build on their unbeaten run of 4 games in the run up to the 2016 European Championship qualifiers. (Scotsman)

Edinburgh united in grief over loss of youngsters

Hearts manager Gary Locke and his Hibs counterpart Terry Butcher paid tribute to the two youth players who died suddenly on Sunday. Easter Road midfielder David Paul, 18, died in his sleep while former Hearts Academy player Jamie Skinner collapsed and died while playing for Tynecastle FC in an Under 14 match. (Scotsman)

IN BRIEF

• Former Rangers midfielder Salim Kerkar is poised to revive is career with Algerian side USMA after being released by Charlton in May

• Hamilton have agreed to extend the loan deal of Spanish defender Jesus Garcia Tena until the end of the season

• Dundee striker Craig Beattie has been ruled out for 12 weeks due to injury

• Dunfermline have extended Jordan Moore’s loan deal having secured the agreement from his home club Dundee United

Rumour Mill: Joe Ledley | Champions League | Lee Wallace