Boss Reid is unfazed by tough opening fixtures

Jun 18 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies boss Billy Reid expects a tough opening month in their 2009-10 SPL campaign after being handed trips to Kilmarnock and champions Rangers either side of a visit by Aberdeen.

The season starts at Rugby Park on August 15, and with all four games against the Ayrshire side ending with slender wins last term, Reid expects a close encounter.

He said: “It’s an away trip and we would have liked a home time in front of our own supporters, but you take what’s thrown up at you.

“The games against Kilmarnock were close last season and were all won by a single goal, so there’s not a lot between the teams. It will be a difficult trip.”

Avoiding Rangers in an often crucial opening month would have been preferable, but Reid is philosophical about travelling to face the SPL champions.

He said: “We would’ve liked to have avoided the Old Firm in the first month but you’ve got to play them at some time and I’ve not got a problem with that.”

The first Lanarkshire derby of the new season will be at New Douglas Park on November 7, and New Year derbies will resume this season with Accies heading to Fir Park on January 2.

Motherwell also visit New Douglas Park on February 13.

Having played in them as an Accies midfielder, Reid is pleased to see the traditional derby return to Scottish football.

He said: “It’s nice to see the New Year derby brought back, Motherwell away is a decent one for the fans and it’s one that the supporters and players will look forward to.”

Celtic are due at New Douglas Park twice before this season’s split, on October 24 and January 30, while Accies visit Celtic Park on Boxing Day.

Rangers are due to visit New Douglas Park on January 16, with a second trip to Ibrox on April 3.

Newcomers St Johnstone visit on October 3.

Having enjoyed a successful campaign last season Reid doesn’t feel under any more or less pressure going into the new term.

And he urged supporters to be patient as he tries to rebuild his squad on a shoestring budget.

He said: “We’re working on bringing people in but we need to be patient and we’ve got loads of time yet. It’s down to our budgets. We can’t sign established players and need to bring in young guys, give them a platform in the top flight, and try to mould them into SPL players.

“But I don’t feel that we’re under more or less pressure to deliver.

“We’re Hamilton Accies in the Premier League and I think we need to be realistic, but we’re well aware of the challenge ahead.

“We’ve always had the belief that we can do things in this division and that will continue.”

Reid continued his spying mission in Spain last week and might take in a game this weekend – but is also trying to fit in a holiday before training starts on July 7.

With most of the squad and backroom team on various holidays at the moment there isn’t a lot happening at Hamilton right now, but Reid is in no hurry.

He said: “We have avenues to go down but nothing much is happening at the moment.

“I watched a couple of games in Spain last weekend and there’s another one this weekend that I might go to see, but I want to try and get a holiday before the start of the season and recharge my batteries.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the case that I haven’t had a day off, but I’m always on the phone and trying to keep things going.

“There were some players I liked over in Spain, but again it’s about wage structures and what we can afford.”

With Setanta’s future still uncertain Reid hopes a deal can be secured to continue television coverage of the SPL – but isn’t sure if it necessarily helps to bring players in.

He said: “It would be a huge boost for everybody in Scottish football and we’re all waiting to see what the outcome is.

“I think having the games on TV could make a difference because the players last season had some big ones – I think we were on about seven times – and people look forward to that.

“But I would like to think that our ability go give players a platform to play in Scotland’s top league, and the chance to express themselves, would be enough of an attraction for players to come here.”

Meanwhile, changes have been made to some of Hamilton’s pre-season friendlies.

An Accies 19s side will take part in the annual Oban Saints tournament on July 11, against Dundee United, Alloa, Hearts 19s, St Johnstone 19s and the host club, with round-robin games at Glencruitten Park and Mossfield Stadium.

Hamilton will take part in the Spartans tournament on July 18 and 19, against the host club – who are East of Scotland champions – Raith Rovers, and English non-leaguers Blyth Spartans at Ainslie Park, Edinburgh. Hamilton’s match against Raith kicks off at 12.30pm on the Saturday.

In a change of date, Hamilton will now take on Darlington at the Darlington Arena on Thursday, July 23, at 7.30pm.

They then head on a tour of Ireland, with matches against Drogheda United at United Park on Sunday, July 26, and UCD in Dublin on either July 27/28.

Accies are in negotiations and hope to arrange friendlies at New Douglas Park on August 1 and 8.

Motherwell kick-off their campaign with a visit to First Division champions St Johnstone’s McDiarmid Park on August 15.

The Steelmen then host Kilmarnock, before visiting Aberdeen at Pittodrie, who are managed by former boss Mark McGhee.

Motherwell have confirmed they will clash with former player Roberto Martinez’s Wigan Athletic in a pre-season friendly at Fir Park on August 8.