Rumour Mill: Keiran Prior | Aaron Taylor-Sinclair | Joe Ledley

Kieran Prior says he will up his stake in Rangers, Partick deny Aaron Taylor-Sinclair Celtic link and Cardiff rule out interest in Joe Ledley.

Rangers will hold their AGM next week. Picture: JP

Prior reveals he will vote AGM vote plan

• Rangers investor Kieran Prior, who owns 2.3% of the club, says he wants Brian Stockbridge out of Ibrox and will also vote against James Easdale in next week’s AGM. He has also revealed that he will provide a financial safety net if it is needed in the new year and says he plans to increase his stake to 15 per cent over the next six months.

He will abstain from voting in the requisitioners who are led by Paul Murray and also will not vote on retaining chairman David Somers and chief executive Graham Wallace. (Record)

• Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace says that he would have no problem working with any of the four boardroom hopefuls who are seeking election at the club’s annual general meeting.

Former chairman Malcolm Murray and allies Paul Murray, Scott Murdoch and Alex Wilson have been seeking support for their appointments and the removal of current board members, especially finance director Brian Stockbridge. (Scotsman)

• Wallace says that Charles Green and Whyte are not working behind the scenes at Ibrox despite claims by would-be board member Paul Murray that Green is “still involved somewhere”

Patrick deny Celtic Taylor-Sinclair link

Partick Thistle say they have not spoken to Celtic about selling Aaron Taylor-Sinclair in the January transfer window.

Jags manager Alan Archibald says he was misquoted following reports that the Parkhead outfit had made a £75,000 move for the 22 year-old left back. (Sun)

Cardiff deny interest in Joe Ledley

Malky Mackay says his Cardiff side are not interested in signing Joe Ledley despite dispatching former Celt Tommy Johnson on a scouting mission to watch the Parkhead side’s 5 - 0 win over Motherwell.

The former Celtic player turned manager did however say he was interested in a number of Scottish-based players. Cardiff have been linked with Dundee United’s Ryan Guald and John Souttar. (Express)

FALLOUT: BARCELONA 6 - 1 CELTIC

• Fraser Forster admitted last night that he could have played his last European match for the Parkhead club.

Asked if he would be here for Celtic’s Champion’s League campaign, should they qualify, he said: “I don’t know. There’s a lot of time between now and then. I’m contracted to Celtic and I will be for the forseeable future I imagine.”

• Hibs manager Terry Butcher has defended Scottish football following Celtic’s heavy defeat in the Nou Camp to Catalan giants Barcelona pointing to the tough group Neil Lennon’s side were faced with and the fact they had to negotiate three qualifying rounds. (Scotsman)

• Celtic’s last six goal defeat came against Falkirk when Jock Stein’s side lost 6 - 2 to Falkirk in April 1965 (Scotsman)

• Kris Commons says Celtic are desperately short of a striker and that the club did not pay enough to replace Gary Hooper who departed to Norwich in the summer (Scotsman)

• Comment: Stephen Halliday argues that Celtic’s bruising defeat to Barcelona was a reminder that Neil Lennon’s side were ill-equipped for their group

• Celtic striker Georgios Samaras has been named the dirtiest player in the Champions League having committed 24 fouls - more than any other player in the group stages

Zenit beat Rangers record low Champions League qualification total

Rangers record of having qualified from the group stages with the lowest number of points has been broken by Zenit St Petersburg who have made it through to the last 16 with six points. Walter Smith’s side qualified for the next stage of the competition in 2005/06 season with only six points. (Sun)

Locked reliant on teenagers to turn out Hearts side

Tynecastle manager Gary Locke says he is having to rely heavily on Hearts’s teenage “groundstaff” to fulfil fixtures as he contends with a mounting injury list.

He is currently having to cope without first team regulars Ryan Stevenson, Jason Holt and Mark Ridgers. (Scotsman)

John Hughes says pressure on rivals for Euro spot

New Inverness manager John Hughes says the pressure is all on Aberdeen and Dundee United as the modestly-funded Highland side can head into the new year playing without the weigh of expectation on their shoulders to qualify for Europe. (Scotsman)

Stuart Armstrong signs new deal with Dundee United

The Tannadice club has negotiated a contract extension with hot prospect Stuart Armstrong that will see the 21 year-old midfielder signing on until July 2016. No agent was involved with Armstrong’s father brokering the deal. (Scotsman)

IN BRIEF:

• East Fife will announce their new manager next week with caretaker boss Gary Naysmith the favourite

• St Johnstone have released David Robertson following a spate of injuries

• Motherwell are to sign Dundee goalkeeper Dan Twardzik on a short-term emergency loan deal

• Crystal Palace have dismissed speculation linking the London club to Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes in January with manager Tony Pullis saying “We can’t afford him”

• Livingston defender Coll Donaldson will have a trial with QPR next week

• Ross County manager Derek Adams is planning to add to his squad in the January transfer window