Accies welcome a new face and striker agrees new contract extension

Feb 8 2007

HAMILTON Accies boss Billy Reid is pictured with new signing Jamie McClen (left), and striker David Winters, who has extended his contract until the end of this season.

McClen (27), a former Newcastle and Motherwell midfielder, has been given until the end of this season to earn a new deal with Accies and hopes to impress Reid.

But McClen wants to step up his fitness before he gets pitched in, and is unlikely to feature against Queen of the South on Saturday.

He said: “The gaffer’s given me three months to see what I can do, and we’ll take it from there.

“Hopefully, he will offer me another contract at the end of season.

“I’ve got to get my fitness up and I’ve been training every day to achieve that aim.

“Ideally I would like to give myself a couple of weeks’ training, get to know the lads, and get my fitness up to full sharpness.”

McClen has been impressed with the New Douglas Park club’s set-up, and has settled in well — but it did help that he already knew strikers Richard Offiong and Brian Wake.

He said: “I came up here to train at Christmas time and quickly realised that it’s a family club. The lads all get on, there are no bad eggs, and it’s a good atmosphere.

“The players range from young to older and it’s a good mix.

“I didn’t know what to expect, because I’m not used to seeing the games up here, but I was surprised by the standard of young lads and experienced players here.

“I didn’t know what I was coming to, but there is some very good talent here, and I would like to be part of that.”