Pompey lining up Agyemang

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson has criticised Crystal Palace counterpart Ian Holloway over his pursuit of Posh winger George Boyd.

Ferguson claims Holloway has been bombarding Boyd with phone calls in the hope of persuading him to join the Championship promotion chasers when the loan window opens on Friday.

Palace last week had a bid for Boyd accepted by Posh but the 27-year-old opted to join Nottingham Forest, ahead of his proposed switch to the City Ground collapsing at the 11th hour due to a failed eye test.

Ferguson told the media ahead of his side's home league game against Leicester at the weekend: "The one thing that has really annoyed me this week is that the Crystal Palace manager has been constantly ringing George.

"I don't think it is right and I'm not having it. He should not be speaking to one of my players. It was clearly different when everyone was chasing his player, Wilfried Zaha. He is the first person to start moaning about it then.

"It's simple, go through the right channels and either sign him or don't. He hasn't had the courtesy to ring me so I'm not going to have the courtesy to ring him.

"I'll speak to the chairman and see where we take the matter.

"Even though there is a very good chance George will be playing for another club next week, he is currently a Peterborough player.

"All we ask is that interested clubs do it the right way and make a bid - as Forest did and Palace initially did.

"As long as we agree a deal we will give the other club permission to speak to the player."

Caretaker boss Guy Whittingham is desperate to boost his threadbare squad having only been able to name four substitutes for the 2-1 defeat at Scunthorpe in midweek - their eighth straight loss.

Former Preston and QPR striker Agyemang has failed to find the net for Stevenage this season and has not made an appearance since New Year's Day.

"We're in a position where we have only got 17 players so we need other players who might give us a different style of play," Whittingham told The News.

"Since Paul Benson left we haven't had a big target man so that's one of the reasons we are bringing Patrick in."

Whittingham also hopes to capture Millwall midfielder Therry Racon on loan.