UEFA set season deadline for Accies
Hamilton Accies chairman Allan Maitland says UEFA’S directive of having the season finished by June 30 is a“logistical nightmare”.
The New Douglas Park supremo says it doesn’t matter if they set a date at August 31, because several of his players will be out of contract, either way.
He said: “I don’t see how that can happen as a lot of contracts expire on May 31, so we would have to wait and see what happens.
“They could say the deadline is August 31 and it might not make a difference.
“We could make players available by extending their contracts by another month, or there could be players here at that point who are at other teams now, and sporting integrity comes into it.
“In England contracts are up until June 30, but up here it’s typically June 3 or May 31.”
Maitland spoke to players and staff on Tuesday and told them to go home until further notice, as the coronavirus threat means all football and training is suspended.
Some have gone back to family in other countries, and Maitland reckons that’s a sensible option.
He said: “Everybody just wanted a bit of clarity, because they were in limbo, and they are now going home until further notice.
“If they can get flights, some of them are heading to Cyprus or down south, and some are going back to their own clubs. I think that’s a sensible move until we know what is happening.
“If we hear that the season is back on, they will all be contacted and told two or three weeks before that.
“We gave them the opportunity to do that and if the season kicks off again it’s on the premise that international flights are back on anyway.
“It has been a difficult situation, and this has added to the many things that have happened this season.
“It’s typical that we have everybody apart from George Oakley back fit for the first time this season and then it all gets shut down, but people’s health is far more important than football.”