Yogi’s delighted Chipper has made the leap
Former Hibs manager John Hughes admits he is thrilled Brian Rice has made his first step into management at Hamilton Accies after nearly a decade as his No. 2.
And Hughes believes the players are sure to be stimulated by the training sessions that the former Nottingham Forest and Falkirk midfielder puts on.
The pair formed a successful working partnership in the dugout at Falkirk, Hibs and Inverness Caley Thistle.
Rice, who has collected four points from his first two games in charge, became his own man at the end of last month when he was appointed head coach at the Hope CBD Stadium, and Hughes is desperate for his friend to do well.
“I’m absolutely delighted for Chipper,” said Hughes. “He’s a great guy.
“At the age of 55, he needed to have a go himself.
“He knows what he’s gone in to, but it’s not really different from Hamilton over the years – always battling away near the bottom but always pulling it out the hat.
“I just wish him well. If anyone needs that break and that little bit of luck, then it’s him.
“It brings a smile to my face every time I see him.”
Rice was Hughes’ right-hand man when he led the Bairns to promotion to the top-flight and a Scottish Cup Final before guiding Hibs into Europe. Hughes also masterminded Scottish Cup success at Caley, and insists Rice will ensure that the players enjoy coming into work every day.
“The boys will not be disappointed with him in terms of his organisation, what he wants them to do with his coaching and all that stuff,” he said.
“He will be right in about them, and if you put on good training sessions then you capture their imagination and they’re stimulated.
“If he is going in there and putting on the training sessions similar to what we did, I know for a fact the Hamilton boys will be like: ‘Wow, this is really, really enjoyable – this is an eye-opener’. “We did it for years and developed it. “I’ve spoken to him and he was telling me they’re a good bunch of boys, so that just tells you the job that Martin Canning did.”