Rice thanks Hamilton for sticking with him

BRIAN RICE says repaying the faith Hamilton showed in him was the reason behind signing a new rolling contract with the club.

Accies stood by their manager last year despite the 57-year-old being hit with a 10-game ban for breaching gambling rules.

And they have now chosen to hand Rice, his assistant

Guillaume Beuzelin and goalkeeping coach Brian Potter, new deals despite the Lanarkshire outfit sitting two points adrift at the bottom of the table with just four games remaining.

Rice is grateful for that backing – and reckons if he was working for any other club, he would already have been axed.

“I didn’t need convincing to sign on again,” he said. “This is a unique club and fits in with everything I’m looking for in terms of how they look after their staff. I owe this club a huge debt of gratitude so it was an easy decision for me.

“They gave me the chance to become a head coach and were right behind me all the way with the problems that I’ve had.

“Right from the top, the fans, the players, the owners, the directors – they have all backed me and really looked after me. So for me it was a simple decision.

“Did I ever fear the club might not stand by me? One hundred per cent. But if there’s any club in Britain that will stand by you it’s this club.”

Rice was appointed in 2019 and has twice successfully steered Accies away from the drop. He faces a tougher task rescuing them this season, however, with Hamilton hovering over the trapdoor.

But Rice added: “The spirit has never wavered. We’ve had massive setbacks this season. But we’ve just got to get on with it and we’re still in there fighting. We’re only one win away from climbing off the bottom and that’s our aim.”

Accies chairman Allan Maitland knows the decision to keep Rice will surprise some fans, but said: “I know it seems strange timing but this is a strange club and we like to do things differently here.

“I think the staff have been magnificent, I think the players have been magnificent and the spirit of the club despite all the injuries and the Covid issues has been fantastic.”