Accies move for ’keeper

Jun 7 2007 By Andy McGilvray

ACCIES look set to sign former Dunfermline, St Johnstone and Clyde goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell today (Thursday).

Boss Billy Reid, who worked with 26-year-old Halliwell at Clyde, said: “Bryn looks set to sign. I’ve worked with him before and I know what we’re getting.

“Bryn hasn’t played as often as he would have liked in the last few years but hopefully he’ll get his head down and can establish himself as number-one goalkeeper here.”

Halliwell could be Hamilton’s fourth signing this week, after landing player/assistant manager Stuart Taylor and agreeing deals with former Livingston striker Neil Teggart and ex-Gretna winger Kevin Davidson.

Teggart (22), is set to sign a one-year deal — with a view to him earning an extension — while Davidson (19), is ready to put pen to paper on a two-year deal.

Reid hopes to turn Teggart’s career around, much like he has with striker Richard Offiong.

The Accies boss says he was shocked that Gretna released Davidson when he approached them with a view to a loan signing.

The New Douglas Park gaffer says other signings will follow this summer, and he’s still hopeful of landing young Swansea City striker Chris Jones on loan.

Reid said: “Kevin Davidson is a really exciting prospect. He can play wide on the left or right and has great pace.

“He’s a player I have watched for a wee bit, and I was really surprised when I phoned Gretna about getting him on loan and they said ‘take him’.

“I’m absolutely delighted to get him on board. Kevin fits the bill for me — he’s 19, hungry, and I think he’ll do well at this club.

“Neil Teggart is a player I think people have still to see the best of in Scotland and I think he knows that.

“He’s come to a club that can hopefully get him going in the right direction, as we did with Richard Offiong.

“Neil hasn’t had a pre-season in three years, and has had problems with the actual structure of his body but we’ve sorted that out.

“Within the next two or three weeks, he’ll get orthotics put in his feet, which will make a huge difference.

“His leg-length had been giving him problems with posture and things like that. It happens to a lot of players, but nobody had pointed it out to him until our physios took a look at him.

“I think people will see the real Neil Teggart next season — and he can make a huge impression in the First Division.”

Reid is still hopeful that Welsh starlet Jones will be part of his plans for next term.

He said: “I spoke to Swansea manager Roberto Martinez on Sunday and I’m hopeful that Chris will be here on loan.

“He’s finding it hard to break through there. They feel as though he needs to go out and try to play first-team football and Graeme Jones knows what he’s coming to.

“Roberto has been really impressed with what we’re trying to do here so they think it would be good for him to come to our club — but he could also go to a number of other clubs.”

Reid also said another unidentified striker could be signed in the near future.

“We’re quite far down the road with that,” he said, “but he’s with another club just now and I’m loathe to say where we are until that’s tied up.

“It is fair to say, however, that the area we’re focusing on is up front.

“We need to get more goals in our team. There has to be competition for places and I guarantee there will be next season.”

Through Stuart Taylor’s contacts, Reid is currently trying to organise a four-day tour of the Republic of Ireland.

A game has been set up against Drogheda United on Sunday, July 15, and Reid hopes to arrange a clash with either Shamrock or Bohemians.

It is hoped the four-day trip — during which they will be based at Drogheda’s United Park stadium — will help the new faces gel with the current Hamilton squad.

With several Accies players already back doing light training ahead of the official June 25 start-back date, Reid hopes everybody will be geared up for the big kick-off on August 4.

He said: “We need to learn from last season when we came out against Gretna and got beaten 6-0.

“That’s the first time that has ever happened to me as a manager, and I certainly don’t want it to happen again.”

l Scottish Football League bosses will release next season’s fixtures on Thursday, June 15.