SLIDING DOORS
Lambo asked if I was daft weighing up return but leap of faith’s paid off
STUART TAYLOR admits he has taken a leap of faith to leave Ross County’s backroom staff and become the new Hamilton manager.
The 46-year-old was advised against the move by Paul Lambert, whom he worked with at Aston Villa, but was desperate to get back to the club where he served as player and assistant manager.
Taylor said: “I told Paul and he said, ‘What are you doing? Are you daft?’ That’s just the way he is!
“I told him about the family situation and I was worried I’d left it too late because the job had been up for a week. He said, ‘All you can do is make the call’ so I did that but it was a leap of faith and thankfully it has paid off.” Taylor was assistant to Billy Reid when Accies were promoted to the top flight in 2008 and the challenge now is to achieve the same feat. Taylor added: “I know expectations have been raised a lot but I’m fine with that. We have to be realistic with expectations but it’s being part of that journey and trying to get the lads back up.”
The weight of expectation and pressure is something Taylor is relishing.
He said: “This is ideal. I’m looking forward to get in about it and put my identity on it and my stamp on.
“I used to take the 18s here along with being Billy’s assistant and I did the 23s at Villa but it isn’t the same as being a manager in your own right. It doesn’t have the edge and I missed that edge.
“I’m as ready as I’ve ever been. I’ve been desperate for this chance for some time.
“The target for every season is to keep progressing and be as successful as you can. We want to make sure performances are right and training is right. If you get that right more often than not performances and results are right.”
Chairman Allan Maitland admits Taylor felt like the ideal fit for the position following Brian Rice’s surprise departure.
He said: “We had a lot of applicants but when he came up he was immediately the outstanding candidate in terms of qualifications and experience. The club is in a fantastic place and it’s a great opportunity for a young manager and he fits the criteria.
“He knows the identity of the club and the academy is still so important here.”
Accies have re-signed Ryan Scully on a short-term contract. The experienced keeper joined Accies on a similar deal last season to provided goalkeeping cover.