Blow to Accies as star not on retained list
Hamilton Accies chairman Allan Maitland has revealed the Lanarkshire club have signed up 29 players for next season but star man Alex Gogic isn’t one of them.
The Cypriot defender, who has been linked with a move to St Mirren as well as clubs down south, will not be returning for Hamilton when the new season kicks-off after turning down a new deal to stay on at New Douglas Park.
It was revealed last week that Blair Alston, Steven Davies and Johnny Hunt weren’t having their contracts renewed for next season.
But in the list released to the Advertiser, Accies fans will spot that as well as Gogic, there is also no Aaron Mcgowan, George Oakley or Mickel Miller among the retained list.
Strikers Marios Ogkmpoe and David Moyo have been rewarded for some big performances with new deals, alongside David Templeton who had already signed a new contract last month.
Highly-rated defender Jamie Hamilton, who was a target for Brighton before the shutdown, has also signed up for another campaign.
Hamilton’s players are currently on furlough, but those whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the month will not be retained on the Government scheme by the club.
A bonus has been paid to all players for keeping the club in the Scottish Premiership.
Commenting on the stars being kept on by gaffer Brian Rice, Maitland said: “I want to focus on the players that we are keeping into the new season, rather than who has left.
“The players who have left are all out of contract and that’s a natural thing and I think people will be more interested in who is staying.
“I’m delighted with the squad we’ve got.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have 29 players and that’s how we’ll start the season unless Brian feels the need to bring two or three others in.
“A lot depends on when the season is going to start.
“But if the season was going to start next week, this is our squad.
“I know there’s a lot of talk about players who are out of contract being kept furloughed, but we don’t see that as a viable option.
“What I would say is as a football club we have made sure our players are treated properly.