Ross lifts the lid on Accies frustration
Former Hamilton star Ross Cunningham has opened up on his frustration at being let go by Accies this summer.
The 22-year-old rose through the ranks at New Douglas Park after joining the club in 2009 and was the club’s joint top scorer last season with seven goals.
However, he was shipped out to League One side Clyde in January and after crunch talks with boss Brian Rice was told he could leave the club.
Cunningham admits he was left gutted not to get a second chance after returning from a loan spell at The Bully Wee following the curtailed campaign.
He said: “I was at Accies for 12 years and it was definitely hard to leave the club.
“I had a few chats with the gaffer [Brian Rice] and he said that I wasn’t going to be required. He thought it would probably be best if I moved on.
“Clyde and Danny [Lennon] were really keen to get me in. Danny was constantly on the phone asking what my situation was.
“I knew I would be given the chance to play at Clyde, that was the main thing for me. I didn’t want to go somewhere and just be a squad player again.
“I wanted to go somewhere and establish myself. I wanted to get my career really going and I feel like I am doing that now at Clyde.”
He added: “I finished joint top scorer for Hamilton last season, in March, and I hadn’t played a game since October time.
“It was a bit frustrating to not get a second chance, but I could kind of see it coming with me getting sent out on loan in January, and being in the last year of my contract, but I feel like I didn’t get played in my natural position.
“I’m not trying to have a dig or make excuses for why it didn’t work out.
“I was played mainly as a winger at
Hamilton and I didn’t really see myself being a winger. I see myself more as an attacking midfielder and that is where I’m playing at Clyde.
“I think Clyde are starting to see the best of me now. I’ve got a good few assists in pre-season and a few goals, but that was all I wanted – to find somewhere where I can play games.”
The midfielder is now loving playing his football permanently under Danny Lennon in the third tier.
“Danny is great to work under,” Cunningham added. “He has tried to get me a few times and he puts a lot of trust in me.
“That is what every player wants.”