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Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies may fly 16-year-old starlet over from Northern Ireland for Montrose opener amid squad struggles
A transfer embargo has hit Hamilton hard and boss John Rankin admits he is in a quadary with Accies U17s going well at the SuperCupNI Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin admits the club may have to fly 16-year-old midfielder Josh Carson back from Northern Ireland in time to face Montrose in Saturday's League One opener because their squad is so stretched. Having been hit with a transfer embargo last week, Accies are unable to strengthen their squad unless they bring in under-19 players or amateurs and that has left them with just 19 players to choose from. However, midfielder Barry Maguire and Kyle MacDonald are set to miss the clash through injury and Rankin is considering flying academy talent Carson back to Scotland for Saturday's clash at Broadwood. Carson - who made his Accies debut in last week's Premier Sports Cup defeat to Dumbarton - is currently overseas with Accies' under-17 in the SuperCupNI, and the team features in the semi-finals tonight against Southampton. Victory there could see Accies face Manchester United tomorrow in the final and that has left Rankin in a quandary. He told Lanarkshire Live Sport: "Right now, Josh is playing for the under-17s in the Super Cup over in Northern Ireland and the boys are in the semi-final tonight. "For me, I need to wait and see how the boys get on before maybe having to fly him back on Friday night or Saturday morning for the game at the weekend. "But, at the same time, these experiences may stand him in good stead later on in the season or his career. "We need him to experience as much high quality football as he can. The boys could play Man Utd in the final tomorrow if they get through, so I need to consider what is best for him. "That's the situation we find ourselves in just now when we are relying on our young players. "But our senior pros also need to stand up and shoulder the responsibility to let the young kids go and learn for their careers." Carson played alongside fellow 16-year-old debutant Aaron Eadie against Dumbarton and Rankin revealed he waited until the last possible moment to tell them the news. He added: "Over the course of my coaching career, I have never sat young players down and built it up for them. "For instance, at the weekend there we knew Josh Carson was going to play, but if we'd told him on the Friday, he probably wouldn't have slept. "We never told him until Saturday that he was going to play. "We did the same thing when Ryan One was here. Sometimes if you give kids too much time to think about it, they spend too much time worrying about the opportunity and lose focus on what is in front of them. "So the most important thing is to let them go and enjoy their football. "We are talking about Josh and Aaron Eadie as two 16-year-olds and there are not many players their age ready to go and play men's first team football. "But what this does for them is give them an idea of where they are and what they need to improve on."
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Former Partick Thistle star 'honoured' to be handed Hamilton Accies armband
The 33-year-old midfielder has taken the armband for the League One side Hamilton Accies have announced Scott Robinson will be the club's cpatin for the 2025/26 season in League One. The former Partick Thistle midfielder take the armband during a turbulent time for the club, following their relegation from the Championship last season and their subsequent season-long transfer embargo announced last week. But the club are sticking together with Accies gaffer John Rankin staying on amid the turmoil and picking Robinson to lead the players on the pitch. Robinson, 33, made 14 appearance for Accies last term after joining from Partick in February and he says he is thrilled to take on the responsibility ahead of Saturday's opener at home to Montrose. Robinson said: 'It's a huge honour to be given the armband for this massive campaign coming up. I won't change who I am about the place, I'll just be my usual self and that's probably why the gaffer has chosen me. "I'm excited for the challenge ahead but we all need to play our part. There's a lot of experienced boys in the dressing room, as well as the young ones that will be involved this year. 'It's about setting high standards, I won't change how I am or how I do things but we all need to chip in. "It is going to be e really tough season with what's happened to us [the embargo] but we need to look forward to the challenge. We need to keep the young boys on track. "I've had lots of good captains in my career. I had Marius Žaliūkas when I was at Hearts, who brought me on as a young boy and really looked after me, so now it is time for me to be that figure for the younger ones coming through. "We need to just try and get the job done to get promoted. We know it is not going to be easy now, the squad will be very thin, but the young boys can play their part now. "They are all good, honest, young boys who work their socks off. I am going to be there to help them and when they make a mistake, I'll pick them up." Accies gaffer John Rankin said: "Robbo came in last season and immediately lifted the standards in training. His energy and professionalism was clear to see and that made an impact on the pitch. 'He's an important character in the dressing room and will be important when it comes to working with the youth that will play a part in the first team this season.'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
John Rankin to fight on with Hamilton Accies as boss determined to see job through despite transfer ban
The Lanarkshire club can't sign a player this season after breaching league rules around failing to settle their tax obligations John Rankin will fight on as Hamilton Accies boss - despite the club being hit with an SPFL transfer ban. The Lanarkshire club can't sign a player this season after breaching league rules around failing to settle their tax obligations. That followed a 15-point deduction last season which effectively relegated them from the Scottish Championship. And Accies have been forced to play their League One fixtures at Broadwood this term after a row over ownership of their Hamilton ground. That has led to uncertainty over Rankin's future as gaffer but Record Sport understands that - despite interest in him from elsewhere in the SPFL - he's vowed to stay on. The 42-year-old is determined to see the job through and get Accies back to the Championship at the first attempt. The transfer embargo is a huge blow to Rankin, who only has 15 senior players on his books. But the highly-rated young coach wants to blood more Hamilton kids in their bid to defy the odds and get promoted. Given the turmoil at the club and the obstacles put in their way, Rankin believes the squad needs stability - and is committed to staying on as manager. Hamilton begin their League One campaign at home to Montrose on Saturday.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
How Hamilton Accies' squad looks after transfer embargo
The League One side have less than 20 players to choose from ahead of Saturday's League One opener against Montrose Hamilton Accies' transfer embargo has left the club with just 19 first team players to choose from this season. The League One club were hit by a season-long transfer ban last week for failing to notify the SPFL they had been in default of their tax obligations to HMRC on three occasions and are only allowed to bring in under-19 players or amateurs as part of the sanction imposed. But it is understood the club will not be making any moves to strengthen their squad with youngsters ahead of the big kick-off this weekend at home to Montrose, nor for the foreseeable future. While Accies are still able to field a number of key men from last term, goalkeeper Dean Lyness and Dylan McGowan, who are both contracted until May 2026, will not be able to feature. A Hampden source has told Lanarkshire Live Sport that Hamilton allowed their deals to expire before launching their recent contract extensions with the SFA, meaning they come under 'new registrations' caught by the embargo. Last season's loanees Ricki Lamie and Charlie Telfer - who were offered permanent deals after both being released by Ross County - also can't play. Midfielder Ben Williamson - who was badly injured in a car accident in December - is also not included in this season's squad. Hamilton can promote youngsters from their youth squads but the current pool for the League One campaign - which includes three 16-year-old midfielders in Kayden Aitken, Josh Carson and Aaron Eadie - will be as follows: Goalkeepers: Michael Marks; Jamie Smith Defenders: Tony Gallacher; Stephen Hendrie; Lee Kilday; Kyle MacDonald; Cian Newbury; Fergus Owens. Midfielders: Kayden Aitken, Steven Bradley, Josh Carson, Aaron Eadie, Barry Maguire, Stuart McKinstry, Connor Smith. Forwards: Liam Morgan, Kevin O'Hara, Scott Robinson, Oli Shaw. Players out on loan: Josh Lane (Stranraer, goalkeeper) Neil Stafford (Forfar Athletic, goalkeeper). Accies face Montrose on Saturday in the League One opener and a fan protest is being planned by the Accies Supporters Association outside Broadwood ahead of the clash.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin opens up on 'bitter disappointment' of transfer embargo after Dumbarton defeat
The Lanarkshire side lost 1-0 to Sons to round off a miserable week for the club Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin admits his squad have a tough challenge ahead this season after the 'bitter disappointment' of their season-long transfer embargo. The Lanarkshire club were punished by the SPFL on Friday for failing to notify the SPFL they had been in default of their tax obligations to HMRC on three occasions, and now can't sign senior players for the entirety of this campaign. It is a huge blow to their League One title aspirations this season, having been relegated from the Championship last season off the back of a 15-point deduction from the SPFL for multiple rule breaches, including relating to the non-payment of players. Hamilton's woes were compounded today when they lost 1-0 at home to League Two side Dumbarton in their final Premier Sports Cup group game and Rankin has spoken for the first time since the club were hammered by the SPFL. The likes of Ricki Lamie, Charlie Telfer and Aaron Comrie had contract offers withdrawn due to the ruling and Rankin admits the embargo leaves them with a mountain to climb in the league this term. Speaking to the club media, he said: "We are absolutely gutted. We were on the training pitch preparing for today's game when we got the news and I broke it to the players. "It is very tough. The players were raw, flat and it is tough even now but we had to make sure we approached today in the right manner. "The players obviously had questions to ask because they came in and saw boys come in and train and be here for the full pre-season. "I feel for everyone with what we've got just now in the squad because we can't bring anyone in because of this embargo. "I am deeply gutted and it is something we've had to swallow. "But the commitment and the professionalism from the players over the last day has been great. They are all together and right now there is nothing else for it. "Hopefully we can overcome the challenge that lies ahead because, let's be honest about it, if we can't sign players for over a year it is going to be a tough challenge with the squad that we have. "But with the character we have, once we get over the initial bitter disappointment, we will come together and we will be fine." Despite the embargo, Accies are able to sign under-19 players or amateurs and the ruling saw the club hand a debut to 16-year-olds Josh Carson and Aaron Eadie. In the end, it was former Airdrie striker Ally Roy who shot down Accies as he pounced on a short header and lobbed Dean Lyness on the stroke of half-time to net the game's only goal. Reflecting on the match, Rankin added: "The hard part after yesterday's news was to make sure that everyone was ready and in the right mind to play. "We got clearance for two tralists at 1.30pm and we weren't able to name the team until then. "We gave Josh Carson his first start within that and we had to make sure that we protect people for next week in the league campaign, because that is the most important thing. "That was my first thought, to make sure we are ready for next Saturday. "But we looked really lethargic and I get that after the news yesterday, so it was about trying to motivate them to make sure they go and play. "Just before half-time the game changes with a mistake, it's a short back pass and then they get their goal. "After that, I felt we upped the tempo in the second half, huffed and puffed. "We made changes towards the end to give some boys minutes and protect others. "We took Connor Smith off to protect him and Kayden Aitken made his debut. We had chances and good opportunities but it just looked like it was one of those days. It sums up the feeling over the last 24 hours." Accies host Montrose in their League One opener on Saturday.
