Rice delight as teenage talents pen new deals

BRIAN RICE insists it is vital Hamilton secure their most promising assets on new deals after teenage talents Lewis Smith and Jamie Hamilton committed their future to the club.

Smith and Hamilton have been monitored by a host of other clubs following their impressive performances since breaking into the first team but they have now penned deals until 2022.

Smith, who scored in the 3-1 defeat to Rangers, has made 17 appearances this term while 17-year-old Hamilton has made six starts in his breakthrough campaign.

And Hamilton head coach Rice hopes the club’s next generation of rising stars will be inspired by the duo’s progress with the first team.

Rice said: “At the club we invest a lot in these young players, a lot of time and effort is put into them and they wouldn’t be the lads they are without the nurturing they receive here.

“We obviously have to look after our own interests, they are an asset to the club.

“But they are only an asset if they are playing in the team and playing well.

“So it works both ways, we look after the lads but the lads also look after the club.

“I can’t think of another 17-year-old centre-half in Britain that is playing regular top-flight football and Jamie is in on merit, not on necessity.

“The two of them right now are doing everything I could ask of them and they are doing it against the top teams in Scotland. I’ve no qualms about playing them.

“I’m delighted they’ve signed new deals.”

Rice admits the challenge for Smith and Hamilton is to keep developing and progressing now they have landed their new contracts.

He said: “Lewis knows he’s involved with the first team every week and playing.

“Young Jamie is only 17 and he’s maturing every day.

“Even against Rangers I’ll admit I was a wee bit tentative about how he would do against either Morelos or Defoe but I didn’t need to, I was worrying about nothing.”