SHIELS JOINS IRISH EURO STARS: Dean Shiels, who left Rangers during the summer, has joined Irish side Dundalk – who came so close to sending shock waves around Europe as they ran Legia Warsaw close in the Champions League Play-offs. The Irish side are managed by former Dunfermline boss Stephen Kenny and will now compete in the Europa League.
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, I CAN…: David Marshall looks set to continue on his quest to ruin the career of Allan McGregor, as Hull have had a £5 million bid accepted by Cardiff for the Scotland number one. McGregor has been the first choice at Hull for the last few seasons but he suffered an injury and it looks as if he will replaced by his fellow countryman.
POTATO/POTAHTO FOR PARS: Dunfermline have been desperate to replace the prolific El Bakhtaoui, and may have replaced him with his (almost) namesake El Alagui. The injury-prone Moroccan is on trial with the Pars after failing to win a deal at Inverness and scored for the Dunfermline under 20s side in midweek.
Boss Allan Johnston has admitted they are interested in signing Farid, but whether they are willing to take a chance with his poor fitness record is another question.
THEY SAID…
“We have set a price which we believe is more than fair – not too much for a current Scotland international with a huge career ahead of him.
“But, as it has been in the past, English clubs think they can come up here and offer lower sums than they should be expected to pay. Wigan would need to substantially put their offer up, then we would have a look at it.
“What is the point of giving away our best players for a pittance?” (Robbie Neilson on Wigan’s derisory £400,000 bid for Callum Paterson)
“It’s money we haven’t budgeted for but it’s not money I think I’m going to see.
“We’re looking at a situation where we need to get players out, so I can’t see much coming in at the minute.” (Tommy Wright talking about the £200,000 Premiership clubs are getting as a Celtic Champions League qualification windfall – get the violin out…)
LYLE EYES QUEENS CENTURY: Queen of the South veteran Derek Lyle travels to face Dunfermline tomorrow on 99 goals for the Dumfries club and given how dodgy the Pars backline has been this season you wouldn’t bet against it.
Lyle scored his first goal for Queens in 2002…when Celtic’s Patrick Roberts was just five!
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