Fixture furore is done
No need to go public on fixtures gripe says Les Gray
Gray says Accies will move on as he feels match list will not be revamped
Hamilton Accies chairman Les Gray didn’t get pulled into a public spat over last week’s SPFL Premiership fixtures release – because it wasn’t the right thing to do.
While Motherwell and Partick Thistle went public with their frustrations at a lack of “Old Firm” home fixtures, Hamilton sought answers from league bosses by calling and writing to them.
Gray says that, ultimately, he doesn’t expect anything to change, and acknowledges that there may be sporting benefits to Hamilton’s fixtures.
He said: “I didn’t think that going public and shouting and bawling to the media was the right thing to do – we wrote and phoned the league to find out how and why it happened.
“My gut feeling is that nothing will change. So much work goes into collating the fixtures that I don’t think they will want to do it all again. Part of the problem is that both Old Firm teams are in the same league for the first time in a number of years – Rangers have effectively replaced Dundee United, and that has inadvertently caused it.
“I wouldn’t say we’re happy, but we understand why it has happened and know it’s not going to change.
“What it has given us is two home games against Inverness and Ross County, which cuts out two lengthy journeys and difficult games. Financially, it’s not helpful, but from a sporting point of view it maybe gives us something.”
Accies are rebuilding for the coming season, and Les reckons they’re in a stronger position than this time last year.
A few players have re-signed, including Louis Longridge, a year’s extension has been given to Greg Docherty, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2017-18 season, and loan striker Carlton Morris could return from Norwich City.
Les said: “I am fully confident that the decisions we have made to extend contracts are the right ones.
“Greg Docherty has added another year, so we have him for two years, there are another couple we are about to announce, and possible signings.
“However, we have to remember our place in the pecking order, and quality players are going to want to get the best contract they can, so we have to wait.
“I actually think we’re much stronger than what we were at this stage last season, and we’re still hopeful that we can get Carlton Morris again as well.
“Michael Mcgovern played brilliantly against Germany this week, and until such time as he phones to say he’s signed for somebody else we have to be hopeful of keeping him.
“We have an offer we are prepared to give to Michael, he knows what that is, and unless he gets a life-changing offer to go somewhere like the English Championship we have as good a chance as anybody.”