Build-up to SPL opener continues with trophy success for Reid’s men

Jul 31 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid watched with pride as his side won League One club Hartlepool United’s centenary tournament in style but warned supporters not to get carried away.

The Accies manager isn’t reading too much into the four-club tournament win, despite good 2-1 wins over strong Huddersfield Town and Sunderland XI sides on their way to lifting the Wilton Cup.

But he said it will stand the SPL newcomers in good stead as they prepare for their league opener at home to Dundee United on August 11.

Reid said: “It was a good feeling to come back with the trophy but I’ve got to say it wasn’t our main objective – that was to get minutes under our belt.

“I told the players before the Huddersfield game that our season started there, because I wasn’t too concerned about results in pre-season up until then, and I told them that.

“I’ve spoken to one or two supporters who said they were disappointed with the Airdrie result (1-0 defeat), and things like that but I just shake my head in disbelief. We weren’t ready then, but we’re getting closer to where we want to be.

“We’re still a wee bit away, if I’m being honest, but I think any Accies fans who were down there will tell you that the performance we put in was quite remarkable, against good teams, good players and guys who are on big wages.

“They’ve enhanced the reputations of themselves and Hamilton Accies Football Club down there, with the manner in which they played.

“The football was fantastic, they scored some great goals, and some of the stuff was just a joy to watch from the sidelines.

“Lucas Akins told me that the Huddersfield team we beat will probably be their starting XI, come the start of the season, and they didn’t take it lightly.

“But it’s pre-season and you can’t look into it too much.

“The tournament win has helped in terms of confidence, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have been confident, after the way that we finished last season.

“To be honest, we were on such a high at the end of last season that coming back and playing a couple of pre-season games was a bit of a downer.

“That’s no disrespect to the teams we played, but they’re just looking forward to the opening game – that’s what everything is geared to.

“The tournament down at Hartlepool gave them that wee edge, in terms of competition, and they’re back to winning ways, which is important.

“There’s also competition for places. Lucas Akins was sensational in the final, the way he linked up the game, and Richard Offiong was sensational the day before as well.”

Reid is still hopeful of being able to land “three or four” new faces, and is trying to arrange loan deals with English Premiership clubs.

He added: “We will add to the squad before the start of the season.

“I’m looking at a loan thing, in terms of big clubs down in the Premiership, and I’m in the process of trying to do that at the moment. “I’ve got my markers down in certain places. I’m continually on the phone talking about different things to agents and trying different things.

“We’ve picked up Lucas Akins by doing that. He’s not the finished article, but he’s like the Richard Offiong we picked up three years ago – he’s a kid that we need to do a bit of work on, but I have belief in him, and he’s the right type of player for this football club.

“We’re looking for young guys with a point to prove and we’ve been successful in doing that in the past.”

Reid said there is a growing sense of excitement surrounding Hamilton’s SPL debut.

He said: “Just after breakfast this morning I said to my wife Fiona that it’s getting closer all the time; we’re almost into August, and you can feel it kicking in.

“The turnaround in this football club, and what has been achieved in the last five years, is quite remarkable. The whole thing is geared up for our SPL opener, and you’ve got to enjoy these times.”

Hamilton hope to arrange a friendly fixture for tomorrow (Friday), and will show off the First Division championship trophy during Ladies’ Night at Hamilton Park Racecourse on Saturday.

Reid said: “It will be a day for the players to relax with their partners and, after being away for a few days, that’s important.”