RANGERS targets Josh Windass and Matt Crooks will be allowed to leave Accrington Standley next month after their club were knocked out of the FA Cup.

The pair's manager, John Coleman, claimed last week that he did not have to sell any of his players during the transfer window.

Accrington sit fourth in League Two in England and Coleman was adamant that his squad would be kept together for a promotion push.

But their defeat on Saturday to Portsmouth in the FA Cup has changed things and it is now understood that with the chance of a bumper third round game against a Premier League team gone, the club will listen to offers.

Windass, 20, is the son of former Aberdeen player Dean and is viewed as one of the best players in the division. The 21-year-old Crooks, a defensive midfielder, has also been tracked by Mark Warburton who admitted that he has sent scouts to Accrington matches.

And while neither are the experienced player the Rangers manager has spoken about as his priority in the window, the pair do tick a lot of boxes.

It is believed a combined fee of around £500,000 would be enough to sign both Windass and Crooks.

Both players are out of contract in the summer and while Accrington would have been reluctant to cash in if Rangers or anyone else came calling, the FA Cup exit now means they will listen to offers,

Windass admitted he has been flattered with the interest and found it hard at first to block out the speculation.

He said: "It’s really nice to be linked to bigger clubs as it shows that people are appreciating what you’re doing on the pitch. However,it can have negative effects.

“You can take your mind off your game and spend more time listening to rumours and I think towards the end of the last transfer window I had a dip in form.

"Maybe I was thinking about that but I spoke to the gaffer and it all got wiped out of my head.”

Warburton was coy when asked about Windass, who has scored eleven times this season,

The Rangers boss said: "I haven't seen much of him. He's a very talented player I'm sure. I've met his dad on a few occasions, but nothing more than that."

Crooks came up through the ranks via Manchester United and Huddersfield Town and signed for Accrington last season at the end of a successful loan spell

Accrington boss Coleman will have to admit defeat if Rangers can put together a deal for his players.

Although he said: "No-one’s going in January. I could be setting myself up for the biggest egg on my face ever here if someone does go, but I believe what I’m doing is right so we’ll get on with it.

Rangers' match on Saturday at Raith Rovers fell foul of the weather which left many fans who had already set off for Fife unhappy,

The Stark's Park pitch passed an inspection at 9.30am, but a second inspection 90 minutes later deemed the pitch unplayable.