I’ve dealt with tragedy and trauma.. this was just one poor result
Rice keeps level head after shock defeat at Annan
BRIAN RICE lives and breathes football but the Hamilton boss has seen enough real-life drama to put the game into perspective.
The Accies boss admits it’s not nice when the heavy flak comes on the back of a horror result such as the 3-1 defeat to League Two Annan in the Betfred Cup on Tuesday night.
But a guy who has dealt with tragedies and trauma off the field is not going to shirk when there’s heat flying around or knee-jerk calls from angry fans calling for him to get his jotters.
Rice was part of the Nottingham Forrest squad involved in the Hillsborough Disaster, he has seen a youngster killed on the training ground at Falkirk 15 years ago and had to deal with another of his former charges taking their own life years later.
On top of all that he has also tackled his own gambling addiction head on and Rice is up for another battle to win over any Accies doubters.
He said: “One really poor result and everyone jumps on the bandwagon. That’s football and I understand the criticism I’ll get.
“I’ve been through Hillsborough, a player dying on the training pitch, one of my young kids committing suicide, I’ve been through my own personal problems. It’s difficult when you are getting criticised but this is just another fight. It’s about perspective.
“It just makes me more determined. I’m not hiding or making any excuses. We should be good enough to go to Annan and win, so there are no excuses.
“There’s no one more disappointed than me – but there is no one more determined to make it better.
“My remit when I came in was to keep Hamilton in the Premiership, bring young players into the team and develop them. We want it to happen quickly and we want success right away. Unfortunately it takes time.”
Rice isn’t hiding away from the Annan shocker though. Going three down was a shock to the system – especially in a game Accies were dominating.
But the Hamilton gaffer insists the defeat should be viewed in isolation. His side sit 10th in the table, having beaten Motherwell and Livingston, and have time to make amends in the Betfred Cup group stage.
Rice wants a response against Ayr on Saturday and said: “Apart from Celtic, no one has run over the top of us and we’ve won at Motherwell – who finished third last year – and Livingston – who were fifth.
“In the first 30 minutes the other night there was only going to be one winner but we made individual mistakes and it was hard to come back from that.
“I was critical about the individual mistakes, not their effort, commitment, desire or their will to get back into the game. We’re looking for a reaction.”
Rice knows his men will need to be sharp to see off Ayr after the Honest Men stuck five past Albion Rovers.
One of his old charges, Mark Kerr, will be in the opposite dugout and Rice said: “Mark’s done a good job. He played for me at Falkirk and I know him well.
“Ayr will come full of confidence after a good result, scoring five at Albion.”