Yogi’s praise for Accies and hopes for Rice
John Hughes insists there was no hint of the extent of Brian Rice’s gambling problems when the pair spent over a decade working together.
And he is hopeful the love of football they have always shared can be his pal’s sanctuary now his addiction is out in the open.
Hughes has praised Hamilton Accies for the way they have handled the revelations that Rice has been guilty of breaching betting rules for the past five seasons.
He is keeping his fingers crossed the Scottish FA will also look at his case sympathetically when the 56-year-old’s misdemeanours go before a disciplinary panel on Thursday.
Rice was Hughes’ trusted No. 2 at Falkirk, Hibernian and Inverness Caley Thistle, as well as a Bairns team-mate, and he is proud of the way his old assistant has handled himself this week.
Hughes said: “The first step to recovery is coming out and saying: ‘I’ve got a problem’. So, hopefully, that will be the case.
“I knew he liked a wee punt, but I was never aware of it when I worked with him for all these years. He kept it to himself.
“I feel sorry for him in terms of the issues he’s having. But I’m really proud of him for the fact he’s been able to come out publicly.
“There but for the grace of God go I. It’s an addiction, but he’ll have a good support network around him at Hamilton and I wish him all the best.
“I take my hat off to Hamilton. They’ve always done that, they’re a very, very supportive club when it comes to all their staff members.
“He loves his football and I hope these off-field issues aren’t allowed to affect him on the pitch.
“He’s made a mistake and some will say it’s self-inflicted. But it’s an illness, and he needs good people round about him to get him through it.
“He’s a football man and hopefully that’s what he’ll be able to focus on and that will get him through.”