Reid quashes break-up fears

Jul 23 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid this week moved to assure fans that his successful team isn’t being broken up, despite the sale of Brian Easton, James McCarthy and Joel Thomas.

And he said the club is working hard to bring in quality signings ahead of the new season’s kick-off on August 15.

Reid confirmed that former Walsall winger Sofiene Zaaboub is interesting the New Douglas Park club, while ex-Clyde star Neil McGregor and returning winger Mark Gilhaney are training with the club, with a view to possible moves.

But Accies have ended their interest in former West Ham, Swansea and Bristol City defender Izzy Iriekpen, who had previously attracted the club.

Sofiene Zaaboub (26), a French-Algerian winger, was with Walsall last term and has previously had spells with Montereau and Saint-Etienne in his native France, as well as English side Swindon Town.

Defender McGregor (24), formerly of Kilmarnock and Clyde, is renowned for his set-piece deliveries and scored for Hamilton during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Raith Rovers in the Spartans Tournament.

Winger Mark Gilhaney (24), is no stranger to New Douglas Park, having left for Dundee only last season, but negotiated his release after failing to settle in at Dens Park.

In the past week Accies have netted £1.2m from the sale of James McCarthy to Wigan, and £125,000 after striker Joel Thomas was bought by Colchester United, adding to the £350,000 from Brian Easton’s move to Burnley, while a TV deal has been agreed with Sky/ESPN.

Accies reached agreement with Colchester for Richard Offiong, but the striker was unable to agree terms and remains a Hamilton player.

Although the club has money to spend, Reid said it will be used wisely.

He said: “A lot of people are saying this is a break-up of the Hamilton Accies team but it isn’t at all, and I can assure supporters that we will bring in people who will make a difference.

“I’ll be looking to bring in quality players, because you can’t lose guys like Brian Easton and James McCarthy and not replace them, so we’ll make sure they’re the right people.

“We’re looking for quality players, we’re in a healthy position at the moment, which is as it should be, but we also need to make sure we’re prudent business-wise.”

He added: “Neil McGregor and Mark Gilhaney are in training, while Sofiene Zaaboub, a midfielder who was with Walsall, is one we’re definitely interested in and we’re taking a look at.

“Izzy Iriekpen is no longer with us, but there are a few others that we’re looking at – however, there’s so much going on right now and there’s no point in speculating.

“However, I think things will be much clearer at the weekend.”

Reid admitted he’s disappointed at seeing McCarthy move on, but is delighted for the young midfielder.

He said: “James moving on was inevitable. The progress he made at the club was remarkable and it’s all credit to himself.

“A lot of hard work went into it from everybody involved in the club, but he’s a credit to his family and to Hamilton Accies, and it’s a great move for him.

“A lot of hard work went into shaping players like James McCarthy and Brian Easton, but that’s the reason I came to the club – because it’s progressive.

“The progress Hamilton Accies has made in recent years has been staggering and that shows when guys like Easton and McCarthy move to the Premiership.”

One player who has already agreed a one-year deal is former Rangers and Raith Rovers defender Marvin Andrews (33), while Accies have paid Czech Republic side Sigma Olomouc £180,000 for goalkeeper Tomas Cerny and secured the services of right-back Trent McClenahan on a 12-month contract.

Reid is delighted with the business done and said: “Marvin has won over 100 caps for Trinidad and Tobago, which is tremendous, and he has a lot of experience of the SPL with Rangers.

“We’re well aware that he’s had a bad injury and we’ve looked at him really closely and carefully, but medically his knee is fine and he’s in great shape.

“We lost Chris Swailes at the end of the season and wanted to bring in somebody that could offer experience, which is important for what will be a young team.”

Reid added: “I was never too concerned about Tomas Cerny, but sections of the media got hold of something and twisted it. I always said he would be a Hamilton Accies player, he’s now here for two years, and I’m delighted.

“If Hamilton have ever had a better keeper than Tomas then he must have been good. He’s brilliant to work with, he’s a terrific goalkeeper, and he’s another that I think will go on to bigger and better things.

“I’m also delighted with Trent coming back. I always hoped that he would. He’s on the fringes of the Australian national squad, he made the full-back slot his own last season and although he’s still recovering from his double hernia operation he won’t be too far away.”

Hamilton played a friendly at Darlington last night (Wednesday), and head to Dublin on Saturday to play Drogheda the next day, and UCD on Tuesday.

Last weekend a 4-1 penalty shoot-out win following a 2-2 draw against Raith Rovers – with goals from Simon Mensing and trialist Neil McGregor – put Accies into the final of the Spartans Tournament in Edinburgh, where they lost 2-0 to the host club.