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Daily Record
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
East Kilbride land St Johnstone in cup: Big scalps last season show we'll have no fear in Premier Sports clashes, says boss
Kilby will take on the likes of St Johnstone and Raith Rovers in their cup section next month East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy says his side hold no fears going into the Premier Sports League Cup groups this summer after pulling off some cup scalps last season. Newly-promoted Kilby are still riding the crest of a wave after reaching the SPFL last month and they are now looking forward to their first matches as a League Two club after the draw for the League Cup was made last week. Kennedy's side have been drawn in Group F alongside top seeds St Johnstone, who were relegated to the Championship last season, Championship side Raith Rovers, League One Inverness Caley Thistle and League Two rivals Elgin City. EK defeated the likes of Championship sides Airdrie and Ayr United in the Challenge Cup last term, so Kennedy believes they can punch above their weight again. Reacting to the draw, which will see Kilby host Saints at K-Park on July 12, Kennedy said: 'I look forward to these occasions because it gives us a chance to test ourselves against some big teams. 'Nothing changes in terms of our style of play, so they are always interesting occasions. I'm looking forward to it. 'It's a really good group. There's three full-time clubs in there so it will be a big test, but we showed last season that we can compete with Championship clubs on our day. 'St Johnstone is a massive game to kick us off after getting into the SPFL. I know they had an unsuccessful season and had a new manager come in, but I have a lot of admiration for [boss] Simo Valakari in terms of how his side plays. 'He is trying to implement a possession-based style of play so I think that will make for a good game between us. 'We will go to try and win all the games and we'll certainly show no fear.' With East Kilbride being involved in the end of season play-offs last term, Kennedy says they will need to use the cup as pre-season. EK are due to play one friendly on Saturday, July 5 against an as yet unnamed opponent before the cup campaign gets underway. League Two will kick-off on August 2. Kennedy added: 'We will try and get one friendly in before the cup starts but that will be our pre-season. 'We need to use the competition as our pre-season because we finished a lot later than the SPFL teams and the boys needed their break.'
Daily Record
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies Broadwood move still to be approved, SPFL confirms
Accies are bidding to play home games in Cumbernauld next season by the SPFL are yet to give it the green light Hamilton Accies' proposed move to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld is yet to be ratified by the SPFL, Lanarkshire Live Sport can reveal. The League One club are seeking to complete the move to a new temporary home after they failed to come to an agreement to purchase New Douglas Park from its current owner Colin McGowan last season. It is a decision which has sparked anger and concern amid large sections of the Accies support and local businesses in the town. Last month, we revealed that Accies would be unable to play any pre-season games of League Cup matches at Broadwood due to pitch resurfacing works taking place. The new pitch is set to be relayed in time for the start of the new league camapign, which kicks-off on Saturday, August 2. And that has forced Accies to schedule their 'home' Premier Sports League Cup games with Hearts on July 15 and Dumbarton on July 26 at K-Park in East Kilbride. The SPFL are due to release the fixtures for the 2025/26 league campaign on Friday, June 20, by which time Hamilton's home ground would need to be confirmed. It is understood Hamilton Accies submitted a tenancy agreement in April but amendments have since had to be made. The SPFL has yet to approve Broadwood as their home ground for next season and they remain in discussions with the club and landlords North Lanarkshire Council regarding this. An SPFL spokesperson told Lanarkshire Live Sport: 'The SPFL remains in dialogue with Hamilton Academical FC over their proposed temporary move to Broadwood Stadium. "East Kilbride's K-Park has been confirmed as Hamilton Academical's venue for home matches during the Premier Sports Cup group stage – but, to date, no venue has been confirmed for the club's other SPFL home fixtures for season 2025/26.' The letter claimed: 'The SPFL stated if New Douglas Park is off the table, and the supporters don't approve Broadwood, there is the very real possibility that they will kick our club out of the leagues. 'If we don't have a 'home' stadium approved by the SPFL without further delay (we've already missed the deadline), we won't meet their Membership Criteria for next season and it'll go to a vote of the other 41 SPFL members." The SPFL did not comment on our enquiry regarding this.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hamilton Accies pre-season setback as Broadwood pitch to be ripped up
Hamilton Accies' pre-season plans have suffered a setback before they have even completed their move to Broadwood Stadium - with the pitch at the Cumbernauld venue set to be ripped up this summer. The South Lanarkshire side announced last week that they would be ending their 24-year stay at New Douglas Park after failing to come to a buyout deal with the stadium landlords, HAFC Stadium Limited which is headed up by ex-Accies owner Colin McGowan. A deal to secure a switch across the region is close to completion after talks with North Lanarkshire Council. However, Accies will need to go elsewhere for their pre-season training with the artificial Broadwood pitch out of service while upgrades are made at the request of the Scottish Football Association and NLC. Lanarkshire Live Sport can reveal the Cumbernauld surface is set to be ripped up and replaced at the end of June, with a completion date earmarked for July 25, although it is hoped it could be ready before then. Some minor stadium repairs are also expected to be carried out. Hamilton's pre-season training starts on June 19 and it is understood the club will either use the public pitches adjacent to the stadium or look elsewhere. A training camp outside of Scotland is also under consideration. This is also likely to cause issues for Accies in terms of competitive action, with the Premier Sports League Cup group stages kicking off in July. Match dates for the competition are July 12/13, July 15/16, July 22/23 and July 26/27. The draw for the competition will take place on Wednesday, May 28. All pre-season friendlies will need to be played away from their 'home' ground and the pre-season North Lanarkshire Cup, which has taken place at Broadwood in four of the last five seasons and included the likes of Airdrieonians, Albion Rovers, Cumbernauld Colts and Motherwell B, will not go ahead. It is the latest setback to his crisis-hit Accies, who are licking their wounds after a 15-point deduction for multiple breaches of SPFL rules saw them relegated from the Championship last week. Rangers Women and Lowland League side Cumbernauld Colts are also tenants at Broadwood so will face the same issues over the close season.
