REID KEEN ON IRISH STRIKER

May 24 2007 EXCLUSIVE By Andy McGilvray

FORMER Livingston striker Neil Teggart could sign for Hamilton Accies, after impressing boss Billy Reid in training.

The 22-year-old Irishman has been released by the Almondvale club, having signed there last year, and was invited to train at New Douglas Park by Reid, who is a long-term admirer of the former Sunderland and Darlington player.

Reid is prepared to offer Teggart a one-year deal, subject to medicals and the pair agreeing terms.

Having been stung by a spate of injuries in recent seasons, the club won’t take chances on Teggart’s fitness, and he will see a podiatrist and knee specialist before he and Reid thrash out a deal.

The manager was cautiously optimistic about capturing Teggart’s signature, and said: "Neil has been in training with us in the last week, with a view to signing.

"We can get him in, but there are a few things to iron out first, and we have to be sure that he will get through a pre-season with us.

"He’s certainly a talented player. Neil is 6’ 2", he’s a different type of striker than what we’ve got here, he’s young and hungry, and if we can get him going I think we could have a player of some stature.

"He’s not had a pre-season in three years, so it’s important that he gets that here, and then I think we’ll see the best of Neil Teggart."

Reid has other targets in mind, and hasn’t ruled out a return by striker David Winters.

And it’s looking likely that young Swansea City hitman Chris Jones will end up at Hamilton.

Reid said: "We’ve spoken to Swansea about that and although nothing has been finalised, it looks as though Chris Jones may be coming to Hamilton on loan.

"He’s 17-years-old, is on the fringes at Swansea, and is frustrated at the lack of first-team chances.

"Swansea are probably going to sign a few big-hitters again this year, so his chances there may be limited.

"This club prides itself in bringing young lads through, Graeme Jones and (manager) Roberto Martinez are aware of that, but at the end of the day, when Chris comes up he has got to earn the right to play in the first team."

On his other signing targets, Reid said: "We have other options and I could give you a list of names, but there’s no point in doing that, and I don’t work that way.

"Anybody we bring in has got to make a difference in terms of middle-to-front.

"That’s two strikers we have the possibility of signing in Jones and Teggart, and we’ll bring in another couple.

"We’re looking for an attacking midfield player, maybe even two, and somebody that can play up front, wide on the right.

"If we can do that, while Mark McLaughlin, Chris Swailes and Davie Elebert ‘shut the back door’, and we get a goalkeeper, then I think we’ll be ready and can have a decent season."

Reid added: "Don’t rule out the possibility of Davie Winters coming back here, because we’re in talks with him as well.

"Davie is a player who I think did well at times last season, he hasn’t signed for anybody, so we’re looking at him as well."

With an "exciting" batch of under-17s ready to come through the ranks, and young James McCarthy having pledged himself to the club for at least another season, Reid is optimistic about the future — but also wants to progress just now.

He explained: "There are so many Premiership clubs who want to link up with us and see what we’re up to.

"That’s pleasing and is testament to the work that Ronnie MacDonald and Les Gray have done at the club, as chairman and vice-chairman.

"There’s a good structure in place, it’s now coming to fruition, and there are more young guys coming through, I can assure you.

"This group of 17s are probably the best we’ve had at the club and it’s up to us to bring them through.

"I’m quite sure some of them will feature in the first team next season and I don’t think there is anything more refreshing than kids coming through your youth system — that’s what I’m all about.

"James McCarthy has also said he wants to stay here for longer and we’re delighted with that.

"The interest is all still there, but he’s happy here and just wants to get involved.

"We’re delighted in that, because we’re not in any hurry to sell the lad; if he keeps on progressing the way he is, then hopefully he’ll play in the Premierleague with us."

Reid added: "I know we’re using a lot of young guys, but we want to progress on what our league position has been for the last two seasons.

"That’s not going to be easy, and I’m not going to tell anybody we’re definitely going to do that — if you don’t work hard in this league you’re going to have problems.

"We’ve finished third and fourth in the last two seasons and while that has been pretty pleasing, we felt as though we maybe could have done a wee bit better, to be honest — but we haven’t been helped by the injuries we’ve had."