Neil’s three-year dream on verge of becoming a reality

Mar 20 2008

ALEX Neil hopes to lead Hamilton Accies into the SPL — and fulfil a promise made three years ago to boss Billy Reid.

Reaching the top flight with the New Douglas Park club has always been Neil’s aim, and he hopes the next five games turn that dream into reality.

Hamilton actually have six games remaining, but Neil hopes the last-day trip to rivals Dundee doesn’t matter by then.

The Accies captain said: “Going up would be massive for the club and myself.

“When I spoke to the gaffer three years ago he said he wanted to build a team to win the league, and I said I would be here until that happened.

“That’s what I’m trying to do – winning the league is what I came here for.

“This is my goal and will be until it happens — when it does, I’ll have to reassess things and set myself new targets.”

Saturday’s 1-0 home win over title rivals Dundee opened up a six-point gap at the top of the First Division, and although the Dens Park side have a game in hand, Neil knows the championship is in Hamilton’s hands.

He said: “We knew that it was going to be a proverbial ‘six-pointer’ on Saturday.

“We have six games left now, and if they had come here and got a draw or won it would obviously have been be better for them, so we needed to win, being the home team.

“I think Dundee would have been happy with a draw, but with us being the home side we had to force the issue.

“It’s been cat-and-mouse all year, where we’ve been top all season and have pulled away, but they’ve caught us up.

“It’s important, come this time of the season, that they don’t overtake us at any time.

“We’ve got six games to take care of, but to be honest we’re not really counting the last one just now because, depending on the points we take from our games, that last one could be winner-takes-all.

“We’re looking over the next five games to try and pick up as many points as we can.

“It’s in our own hands and we’re more than happy with that, because what we don’t want is other teams having to do us a favour.

“That hasn’t been the case all season and hopefully it won’t happen now.”

That said, Hamilton travel to basement battlers Stirling Albion on Saturday, while Dundee take on Dunfermline at East End Park.

Accies arguably have the easier task, but Neil pointed out that every team in the First Division is scrapping for their lives.

He said: “There are no easy games in this league, and but we drew with Stirling at New Douglas Park back in January, which was a disappointing result for us.

“Stirling are fighting for their lives, they have things to play for, so they need a win like ourselves.

“it should be an exciting game on Saturday.”