Hamilton Accies boss Billy Reid working to tie up player deals

Dec 24 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON boss Billy Reid says he’s working flat-out to tie up deals for striker Mickael Antoine-Curier and midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin – but admits it might be mission impossible.

The New Douglas Park gaffer secured Leicester midfielder James Wesolowski on a deal until the end of the season and was confident of hammering out a similar agreement with Dundee for Antoine-Curier.

Beuzelin is on a short-term deal which also expires in January and Reid is keen to keep him.

But finances and other factors might prevent him from doing so.

Reid said: “I’m working around the clock to try and make things happen right now and I’ve not been off the phone.

“People know my feelings on the players involved, but they also know the situation I’m in.”

Meanwhile Reid admitted that Saturday’s home clash against Dundee United being postponed due to snow was hardly ideal preparation for a trip to Celtic Park on Boxing Day, but insisted the decision was correct.

He said: “It was the right decision, nobody could argue with it, but I’ve never seen anything like it.

“We had warmed up, we were prepared to play the game, and then it was off.

“We were a bit frustrated by that because United had lost in midweek and we were quite confident that we could take something from the game.

“But you never know what is going to happen and we just need to take it on the chin.”

Reid wants his side to prove at Celtic Park on Saturday that they’re a force to be reckoned with.

The gaffer is more aware than most of the plethora of stars available to Tony Mowbray, but reckons Accies can be tough to beat if they’re at the top of their game.

He said: “Celtic might have lost against Hearts on Sunday but I was impressed with them. Even with 10 men, I thought they were the better side.

“Hearts got their penalty and then I think they scored with their one attack in the second half.

“Aiden McGeady was fantastic, they created a lot of chances and on another day, Celtic would have won the game.

“I don’t buy into the theory that Rangers and Celtic aren’t as strong as they were and, now that they’re out of Europe, I think you’ll see them both push on.

“If anything, it seems to have refreshed them and they’re both playing really well just now.”

Reid added: “Celtic have a decent squad and they’re a really tough nut to crack – especially at Celtic Park.

“We’ve been beaten quite heavily there on a couple of occasions but I would say to the players this time around to cut out the mistakes and make sure their good players can’t play.

“That means trying to contain guys like Georgios Samaras and Scott McDonald, who are both excellent strikers, while Marc-Antoine Fortune has scored three goals in the last three games.

“They clearly have more quality than we do, that is obvious, but it can be about who wants it more and works harder on the day.

“If we play as a unit and as a team then we are a tough nut to crack as well – and I think most SPL managers would tell you that.”

Reid is mystified by some sections of the Hamilton support suggesting that his side simply give up against the Old Firm.

He said: “If people want to say things or write things on message boards, then there is nothing I can do about that but I find it strange at times.

“We’ve always wanted to take something from the Old Firm, so we’ll be doing everything we can to do that.

“But these are great times at Hamilton Accies, so people should just enjoy it and back us.”

Following Saturday’s visit to Parkhead, Accies are due to entertain St Mirren at New Douglas Park on Wednesday (December 30).

An excellent performance saw Hamilton win 2-0 at New St Mirren Park on October 31, and Reid reckons Gus MacPherson’s side will be looking for revenge.

He said: “St Mirren will be dangerous, particularly because we beat them at their place earlier this season. They’ll have a point to prove.

“St Mirren are currently on a run that they won’t be happy with; I’ve watched a couple of their games and they’ve maybe deserved a bit more than they’ve got, but that’s sometimes how it goes in football.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton fans have been offered a special admission price of £25 for an adult and two under-17s for the January 2 derby at Motherwell’s Fir Park.