Reid feeling blue about Gray

The winger had been keen to join The Whites after impressing during a trial, but Leeds failed to match Crystal Palace`s valuation of the player.

Leeds have now admitted defeat in the race to sign Gray, who could now be heading for a deal with Charlton after linking up with The Addicks for a trial on Saturday.

"Unfortunately, we could not further the deal," Reid said. "I am not having a go at Palace, they had a valuation and so did we, but we could not do a deal.

"He is a smashing player and I wish I could have brought him in but that was out of my hands and unfortunately we could not bring him in. But I will keep looking."

The road seems clear for Charlton to thrash out a deal for Gray, with Alan Curbishley admitting he is hopeful of wrapping up the wide man's capture.

"We knew he had been up at Leeds and that the deal had fallen through," he affirmed.

"So we contacted Crystal Palace to see if he could come with us, and the player was happy to do that.

"We roughly know how much Palace are asking for the player, but whether we offer that for him, I don't know."

Gray could be joined at The Valley by Stephen Hughes, the former Arsenal and Everton midfielder.

Hughes has been training with The Addicks following his release from Watford and impressed during Saturday`s friendly with Peterborough.

Addicks boss Curbishley said: "We have had a good look at him. He`s done okay and gives us something to think about."