Had Hamilton Accies been relegated on merit, I might still be there, says former skipper
Sean McGinty has stayed in the Championship with Airdrie after a turbulent season
Sean McGinty says he needed to take a clean break from Hamilton Accies, and reckons he might still be there had they been relegated on their own merit.
Captain McGinty exercised a relegation release clause when a 15-point deduction for off-field offences pitched Accies down to League One.
The English-born defender has since signed for Championship side Airdrie, where he will operate in a dual coaching role throughout the season.
But he admits his decision to leave New Douglas Park was a heavy one.
McGinty said: 'Last season was tough. I came in at the start of the season, we signed quite a few good players, and that's what drew me to Hamilton – a good squad, a good manager, he had success the year before.
'On the pitch we did really well. Coming up from League One to the Championship, to finish what would have been seventh was a good season for us.
'Obviously what happened happened, and it was really disappointing. As a playing group I thought we achieved what we needed to achieve, but unfortunately how it ended was really gutting for everyone.
'But I'm sure they'll bounce back and have a very good season.'
McGinty added: 'I had a relegation release clause and decided to activate that. Fortunately I've managed to secure myself a contract within the coming weeks, so I'm delighted to get it all sorted.
'It was a very stressful end to the season for everyone at Hamilton – we didn't know if we were staying up, or going down, so it's just nice to have a clean break and focus on the football.
'If we had been relegated, it was our own fault, and we deserved to go down, it might have been a different story - maybe I would have stayed.
'But I just think the way it all happened, I decided to make the move, and thankfully Airdrie have given me the option to sign for them and keep playing Championship football, which I'm delighted with.
'I'm just really looking forward to getting going, meeting the boys, and getting back out on the pitch.
'I'm really looking forward to getting going and it's quite an exciting challenge for myself.
'I'm sure it will be a very positive year.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Sun
I was jailed for robbery aged 15 before becoming a drug dealer and rapper – but now I'm an academy scout for Arsenal
JOSEPH BOL has gone from dealing drugs, getting stabbed by rival gangs and spending three separate stints in prison, to helping Arsenal uncover new talent as an academy scout. Bol, 39, has turned his life around, putting crime in his rear-view mirror and excelling as a football scout. 7 7 Bol works as Arsenal 's grassroots academy coordinator for East London, helping the Gunners identify the best talent across U9s to U14s level. It's far cry from what he was doing at a similar age to the youngsters, with Bol being sent to prison for three years at just 15 years old for robbery. He also found himself wrapped up in dealing Class A drugs and ultimately being convicted for that too. Speaking to The Times, he recalled: "I wanted things my mum didn't deem necessary, like designer clothes, trainers, and that led me down a slippery slope. "I stopped playing football and I started selling and smoking weed, and then it went on to be more Class A drugs. I was just in a bubble thinking this is going to be my career path." After being let out of prison for the first time, Bol turned his attention to rap music - amassing millions of YouTube views for his songs about crime. He added: "I came out and got adulation from my peers, it boosts your ego, and I just started rapping about what I was going through. "It was more about selling drugs. We didn't really have postcode wars at the time.' 7 Bol, who recalled taking Maths and English GCSEs in a young offenders' institute, was still wrapped up in the world of crime for some time. And was even stabbed in the arm and leg while sitting in the front seat of his car by four members of rival gang at one point. But after turning 21 and finisng himself in an adult prison, Bol's life changed thanks an officer who encouraged him to complete FA Level One and Community Sports Leader coaching courses. He recalled that decision helped him "break the cycle" and he started to volunteer at a local football club when he was released from prison. In 2012 he set up his own grassroots team, AC United, which snowballed into an eight-team club with performances catching the attention of top scouts. Bol continued rapping about his old life at the same time, earning a reputation under his stage name "Joe Black", and even performed as a support act for hip-hop superstar Rick Ross. 7 Unexpectedly, it was his rap career that helped Bol land his first proper job in football. A standout player at AC United, Clinton Mola, was invited for a trial at Chelsea - with Bol accompanying him to the training ground. Upon his arrival at Cobham, Bol was mobbed by a group of U14 players - including a young Reece James - who recognised him from his music videos. Recognising the sway and impact that Bol had in the local community, Chelsea decided to hire him as a member of their coaching staff. They also signed Mola, who now plays for Bristol Rovers in League One and represented England from U16 to U21 levels. Bol recalled being concerned that Chelsea would turn him away after a DBS check of his criminal history. He said to The Times: "Rightfully so, because there were obviously reservations after what showed up [on the DBS check]. 'I did a risk assessment and they asked me how I ended up in these situations and what I'd done to change my behaviour to ensure I wouldn't fall back into those old patterns. "Long story short, I think the years I put in coaching unpaid went a long way to overpower the past. 7 "They could see I was making a big effort to make a change. I got the role and I was there for just over five years.' From there Bol's career in football scouting has taken over and he made the switch to Arsenal's academy in 2020 - where he has been ever since. Working alongside academy manager Per Mertesacker, Bol's role is to manage a group of scouts and make sure they are always covering all parts of East London. Along his way he has helped unearth and develop some of of the Premier League's most exciting young talents. Zain Silcott-Duberry, who made his Prem debut for Bournemouth this season, is just one of the youngsters he has had a hand in developing. While 14-year-old Trey Faromo, another Bol has helped identify, is thought to be one of the country's brightest talents and recently made his debut for Chelsea Under-18. Now Bol is targeting a spot as the head of recruitment at a Premier League club, but still recognises how far he has come. He said: "I feel proud of where I'm going. It's good to reflect every once in a while to remember how far I've come" 7 7
Daily Record
10 minutes ago
- Daily Record
I'm an ex Liverpool kid who was lost boy at Hibs and banned from every Edinburgh nightclub for peeing against a wall
The former Liverpool kid admits his time in the capital in 2011 was life-changing as he changed his ways Victor Palsson was barred from every nightclub in Edinburgh when he was a Hibs player. The Icelander got drunk and was caught urinating against a wall, which resulted in a blanket ban. But after quitting the booze, Palsson got his career back on track. And the former Liverpool kid has enjoyed a career which has taken him from New York to Holland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium - and now Plymouth. Palsson, along with his Iceland team-mates, left Scotland looking punch drunk at Hampden on Friday night as they secured a 3-1 friendly win. It brought back memories of his time in the capital with the Hibees in 2011, which he says was a life-changing experience. The 34-year-old, who scored Iceland's third goal against Steve Clarke's side, said: 'It was a very long time ago. I was a young lost boy back then. 'Looking back, I was young and not really aware of the importance of life and being a professional footballer. I made a lot of mistakes, especially at Hibs. It started off OK but then it wasn't good. 'I didn't leave in a good way either, so I think my time there is remembered for the wrong things. There was a big incident, a six month ban from all the nightclubs. But as I said, I was lost. 'It helped me focus, 100 percent. A few years later I made some big decisions to sort out my life. I'm happy I did that. I gave up drinking. The time at Hibs played a part in that. 'I just couldn't handle my drinking. I gave it up and haven't had a drink for almost 11 years now. I had to focus and I've managed to make a decent career.' Palsson is now at Plymouth Argyle who were relegated from the English Championship last season. That was despite the efforts of Scottish striker Ryan Hardie, who bagged 12 goals for the Pilgrims. And Palsson insists he could play for Scotland. He said: 'Ryan is a really good player and I hope we can hold on to him. 'For two years, he's hit double figure goals in the Championship. He talks to us about Scotland. He's a great professional who wants to play for his country and I think he's done enough to get a chance - even in a friendly. 'Hopefully we'll see him play for Scotland in the future. Ryan is a great finisher and so quick. He's rapid.' Iceland fully deserved their shock win over Clarke's men at Hampden on Friday night - even if they were helped by mistakes from rookie keeper Ciaran Slicker. Palsson was delighted with the result and admits they took advantage of the goalie's fragility. He said: 'We played some great football in the first half and didn't give away many chances. We suffered a bit in the second half but overall it was a fair win. 'I try to put myself in the shoes of the young goalkeeper. He came on after two minutes and we could see with his first few kicks, he wasn't 100 percent. 'We just started pressing him and it gave us blood on the teeth. We heard the crowd boo at half-time so we just said, keep doing what we're doing. It was a good win for us.'
Metro
14 minutes ago
- Metro
Liverpool star responds to rumours he could complete Bayern Munich transfer
Cody Gakpo has distanced himself from reports that he could be set to leave Liverpool for Bayern Munich. The 26-year-old forward enjoyed a strong season with the Reds, racking up ten goals and four assists in the Premier League to help the club win a record-equaling 20th title. But there has been some speculation that Gakpo's time on Merseyside could be coming to an end, with German champions Bayern having identified him as a target for the transfer window. Leroy Sane is expected to move on from the Allianz Arena this summer and Bayern are scouring the transfer market for a left-sided attacker to replace the four-time Bundesliga winner. However, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is determined to keep hold his fellow countryman and has reportedly told club bosses to do everything in their power to block his exit. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. The Dutch attacker has three years remaining on his current contract with Liverpool. Facing the media ahead of the Netherlands' 2-0 victory over Finland, Gakpo insisted he had no knowledge of any interest from Bayern. 'I haven't heard anything about it myself. I'm closing myself off from it,' he told reporters. 'Maybe my agent has heard something, but I'm focusing on myself.' Gakpo has been with Liverpool for three years having completed a move from PSV Eindhoven for a fee in the region of £40million in January 2023. In March, Gakpo credited Slot with transforming his game after a somewhat mixed opening 18 months in English football. 'I think he offered me a lot. The first thing he did was change my position slightly, so back to the left,' the former PSV man said. More Trending 'That was maybe a small change on paper but for me it was a big change. 'Then I had to come into the team as well and he gave me the chance to show myself. 'Obviously he's trying to help me to develop myself in moments in the game, how to be smarter, how to be better, how to get yourself more in scoring positions and giving the decisive pass and everything like this. 'He's helping me a lot. The manager and the staff, they try to help everybody, and I think everybody can see a lot of players are developing well.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Key Liverpool star hints at Anfield exit with contract expiring next summer MORE: Bayer Leverkusen respond to Liverpool's £113m transfer bid for Florian Wirtz MORE: Rasmus Hojlund responds to claims he's agreed £38m deal to leave Manchester United
