Reid prepares for next season with release of strikers

Apr 14 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BILLY REID has admitted that Hamilton Accies are already gearing up for next season after axing two first-team strikers ahead of last Sunday’s defeat to Rangers – and more look set to follow.

Striker Damian Casalinuovo was released from his two-year contract on Saturday at his own request and is believed to be on trial with German side Duisburg.

Portuguese striker Marco Paixao, who has been crocked since mid-February, has also been told he won’t be offered a new deal when his current contract expires in the summer.

Casalinuovo, signed up in August following his release from Dundee United, failed to score in his time at Accies although he wasn’t a regular. Marco Paixao had scored just once this season but his six strikes last term helped Accies avoid relegation last season.

Others are likely to follow the duo in the coming weeks as Hamilton cut their cloth with relegation almost a certainty.

With a 12-point gap between themselves and St Mirren, Reid is well aware that Accies are likely to drop down to the First Division next season, but reckons it could actually do the club some good.

Following the 1-0 New Douglas Park defeat against Rangers, Reid (left) said: “Whether we’re in the Premier League or the First Division, we’ve got to get ourselves geared up and ready for next season.

“We’re Hamilton Accies, we’ve had three seasons in the Premier League and it has been a great success story.

“We are producing a number of young players, there are many more to come from this club and if we go down to the First Division it’s easier to bleed them.

“If we go down, the objective is going to be to go out there and win games week in, week out and the belief of myself and my chairman, Ronnie MacDonald, is to go and play a passing game.

“I think people saw that for long spells on Sunday when Rangers were chasing shadows – they’re the champions of Scotland so we must be doing something right.”

Reid admitted his side hasn’t had the necessary quality up front this season but insists he will continue to play the passing game which earned plaudits against Rangers on Sunday.

He said: “We get the ball down and play, that’s the way we’ll progress. We’ll continue to play in that manner.

“I get a wee bit frustrated in the final third because we don’t have the quality to do something.

“We played really well in the first half against Rangers but we got a chance with a penalty, missed it, they got a free-kick and scored. That sums up our season.”

l Sunday’s SPL clash against Hibs at Easter Road kicks-off at 12pm to accommodate live coverage on ESPN.