Mensing is back for good

Jan 25 2008

SIMON Mensing this week admitted that Billy Reid’s perseverance played a major part in luring him to Hamilton on a permanent deal.

The 25-year-old midfielder on Friday signed a deal that keeps him at New Douglas Park until 2010 after finally securing his release from SPL side Motherwell.

Mensing enjoyed a successful month-long loan spell in December, during which time he scored three times, and although Gretna and former side St Johnstone were interested in signing him, there was only one club for the German-born star.

Mensing said: “I am happy to be here, definitely. I thoroughly enjoyed my loan spell and it’s really good to get back ‘home’ again. I am glad I could make it permanent.

“At the end of the day, like I’ve always said, I just wanted to be back playing football.

“I wasn’t particularly looking forward to going back to Motherwell; I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Hamilton, and the boys were great. I got a few games under my belt and scored a few goals, but I was in limbo come the January transfer window.

“Billy made it clear that he was interested in me, and I was really interested in coming to the club, so I was delighted that we were able to work something out.

“I played under Billy before at Clyde, and thoroughly enjoyed that, so I know what he’s like and we’re on the same wave-length. He was persistent in trying to bring me here and, of course, that made a difference. Everyone likes to be wanted.”

Mensing’s dream summer move from St Johnstone to Motherwell last summer turned sour, but the player, who was brought up in England, said he doesn’t regret it.

He said: “Moving to Motherwell was the right choice for me at the time, but things didn’t work out. I would like to have played a game for them to be honest, but that wasn’t the case.

“I was getting the odd 10 minutes here or there if I was lucky and, like I said, that wasn’t enough for me, and I was unhappy to say the least.

“I am 25 now and I just want to be playing football regularly. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t get to prove myself in the SPL, that was disappointing to say the least, but hopefully I can be doing that next season with Hamilton.”

Despite Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Partick Thistle, Mensing said that everybody at Hamilton is still confident they can win the First Division championship.

Simon said: “Saturday was unfortunate for us, but you’re going to take blips in a season. Hopefully that’s all it was and we’ll try and put it right in the next game against Clyde.

“We believe we can win the league. We’re still top, two points clear with 14 games to go, and we’re not top of the league for nothing.

“There’s a lot of work to be done and I know it’s an old cliché, but you take it one game at a time. We are top of the league at the moment, so hopefully we can keep that going and end up in the SPL. I want to be part of that and I’m thoroughly looking forward to the challenge.”