Reid's got his eyes on new talent but hit by budget woes

Jun 11 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid spent last weekend looking at players while on a break in Spain and was blown away by what he saw – but reckons his budget will be a problem.

The financial crisis surrounding Irish TV company Setanta means SPL clubs are likely to be severely hit in the pocket and Reid says that will affect Hamilton’s spending power.

At the time of going to press, there was heavy speculation that Setanta are on the brink of liquidation and unless a rescue package can be arranged swiftly, clubs could lose out on millions of pounds – with thousands of viewers facing a blackout next season.

Reid said that scenario would affect his spending power and added: “The Setanta situation is a big, big problem not just for Hamilton Accies but for everybody in the SPL.

“Everybody knows how much of an impact that is having on clubs just now and when Rangers and Celtic are drawing in their horns it shows you how badly it is affecting clubs.”

Reid returned from Spain on Tuesday after taking in his first Segunda B game and will head back next week to take in more action. At this stage, he said it’s all about building contacts and looking at the standard of players available.

Reid said: “There were two or three players that I really liked, who would definitely play for Hamilton Accies next season, but whether they would be in the realms of our budget is another matter.

“They are probably outwith our means but it’s important to see the standard of players available here and to make and build contacts.

“I’ve made some contacts and I took in my first Spanish game in the Segunda B, which is the third tier in Spanish football.

“The scope for players out there is tremendous but we need to work within our budget.

“It’s difficult because you need to know how far a level to go down to find players that we can realistically target.

“I know the players that I would like to bring in but it’s down to budgets. It’s important to do that because we can’t spend big on players and wages so realistically we’re looking at seeing what we can bring in on a cut-price deal.”

Reid said at this stage that there’s little possibility of a ‘feeder’ link-up between Accies and a Spanish club but added: “You can never say never in football.”

Meanwhile, the Accies boss hopes goalkeeper Tomas Cerny will be back at New Douglas Park on July 2 for training as normal but said there’s nothing he can do about an apparent stalemate between Hamilton and Czech club SK Sigma Olomouc.

A club statement has already been issued, saying: “Accies have confirmed, again, that goalkeeper Tomas Cerny is a fully signed-up Hamilton player and has two years remaining on his contract with the club.

“The chairman, Ronnie MacDonald, remains in negotiations with Sigma Olomouc.”

Reid said: “I hope Tomas Cerny will be a Hamilton Accies player next season. As far as we’re concerned, he has signed a contract with us. The situation is quite difficult at the moment but I can’t control that.

“We introduced Tomas to the Premier Division and I don’t think I’m just being biased when I say he’s one of the best in the league.

“We’re desperate to have Tomas back here and for the next couple of years. We realise that it might be difficult to hold onto him if he does return but that puts him in a bracket with a number of other players at the club who can move on to bigger and better thingss and I don’t have a problem with that.”