ACCIESHITTHE BULLYEYE
Clubsaysgroundshare withclydea‘no-brainer’ andwillhelpboostcoffers
Hamilton Accies chief executive Colin Mcgowan says a groundshare with Clyde next season was a “no-brainer” and will provide a “magnificent financial boost”to the club ahead of their toughest year in decades.
Last week it was announced Accies would welcome the League One club to New Douglas Park from the start of next season in July, following Clyde’s acrimonious exit from Broadwood Stadium.
The Bully Wee had spent the last 28 years in Cumbernauld but the David Goodwillie saga earlier in the year prompted Broadwood’s owners, North Lanarkshire Council, to announce they would not be renewing Clyde’s lease when it expired in May 2023.
Goodwillie - who was ruled a rapist in a 2017 civil court case - was banned from Broadwood when he tried to return to Clyde on loan from Raith Rovers, a move that sparked a public outcry.
Following the furore, Clyde have now moved to terminate that lease a year early and have struck a deal with Accies to play their home matches in Hamilton from the start of next season.
It is the second time the clubs have groundshared, following a partnership at the old Douglas Park between 19911994 when Clyde were waiting to move to Broadwood.
And Mcgowan, who helped broker the deal with The Bully Wee, says it will be a big benefit to Accies as they prepare for another season in the Scottish Championship after last year’s relegation from the top flight
The 67-year-old said: “It was a nobrainer for us.
”This is going to be the hardest year ever in the past two decades for Accies, coming out of a worldwide pandemic with a dwindling support and energy prices on the rise as well. “It helps Clyde out and it helps Hamilton Accies out in a very difficult financial climate, so it ticks all the boxes. “Clyde won’t be training here - they’ve secured training facilities elsewhere - and we’ll be looking at 20-odd days in a season that Clyde will actually use the stadium, with 18 league games and some cup games.
“But it is a magnificent boost for the club.
“There’s a lot of things dependent on how many fans come, how the bars do and kiosks, plus there’s other things we are trying to do to create additional income for both clubs.
“I’ll be speaking to Clyde over the next week or so to go over the final details.
“But we wouldn’t be doing it unless it was beneficial to Hamilton Accies.
“And it goes without saying that if there are any fixture clashes Hamilton would take priority.
“Everything this board does is for the benefit of the club.”
With a big season ahead in 2022/23 as the club bid to get back to the
Premiership and the financial benefits that provides, Mcgowan (inset) says moves like bringing in Clyde and commercial activities are vital for the club to stay afloat.
He added: “This club’s financial survival is in our hands and we will all need to work together. The support of the fans and their contribution is greatly welcomed, but we need a significant amount of money each season.
“That comes through sponsorship money and clever moves that generate enough income.
“That’s why this club had 10 years in the Premiership, because of the abilities of our commercial side.
“I think we’ve worked miracles to be where we are in this climate.
“With another 20-odd games coming to the town this is great for the local economy as well. There are a lot of positives in this move for everyone.”
Announcing their move to Hamilton last week, Clyde’s statement read: “Clyde Football Club will, imminently, be issuing a notice to North Lanarkshire Council terminating its lease at Broadwood.
“The board has arranged with Hamilton Academical to play our home matches at New Douglas Park while we accelerate the process to secure a site and new stadium back in Glasgow.
“The Board is immensely grateful to Hamilton Academical for their cooperation and the efficiency with which this deal is being finalised.”