RICE AIMSTO STRENGTHEN
Boss eyes signings as deadline day looms
Hamilton Accies boss Brian Rice says he wants to strengthen further ahead of the transfer window closure on Monday, but has to make sure he gets the right players.
Accies brought in midfielder Ben Stirling from Friday’s opponents Hibs, and Rice is looking for more.
He said: “I am looking to strengthen. I’ve been actively looking since we’ve come back.
“There’s an area where I’d like to strengthen and it’s very difficult, because finances are very tight at every club, but there’s a specific position that I’m looking to strengthen and it’s a case of trying to find the right person, the right character to come into our club.
“Whoever I bring in has to fit in.
“We’re looking everywhere, I’ve got contacts looking as well to try and identify the right target. You only get one chance at it. We talk about finances and it does boil down to that.
“We know the market we’re looking in and I know I can’t sign someone from the English Championship or League One permanently, so there are areas that I’ve got to target, areas I’ve got to identify that are affordable. There might be a loan somewhere.”
Rice reports no new injury worries as he heads into a Friday night showdown under the floodlights at Hibs.
The gaffer wants that to be an occasion for his players, and to make life difficult for their hosts.
“Going to play at night-time anywhere is fantastic,” he said. “Players love to play with the lights on, especially at fantastic stadium like Easter Road and it will be a real test.
“They’re a very good team,
Jack Ross has added pace into it, Alex Gogic has added something to the team, and I know how difficult it will be, especially Hibs attacking.
“I don’t see many Hibs games ending 0-0, or 1-0, I think their games will contain goals at both ends; they’re very cavalier, they’re on the front foot but I know they have a weakness or two as any club has.
“Us going away from home doesn’t hold any fears for us, on the road we’ve been pretty good.
“Easter Road is a venue you can’t be scared of going to. It will be difficult, but I need to make sure it’s difficult for Hibs as well.”