Canning: seasons ofhighs andlows
Martin Canning arrived at Accies as a player in 2008, having negotiated his release from Hibs.
It was considered something of a coup at the time, and he went on to enjoy seven good years at the club.
He took over as manager in January 2015, steering Accies to a seventh-placed finish and their highest-ever top flight points total of 53, though some would say that had a lot to do with Alex Neil’s results in the first half of that season.
Canning averaged a 10thplaced finish in his time as manager, and there were some highs and lows.
In season 2015-16, Hamilton lost 4-1 to Annan Athletic in the Scottish Cup fourth round on January 9, which is probably the lowest point, and the Galabank club’s best ever result.
Nine days later, Accies lost 8-1 at Celtic Park, then in subsequent games drew 0-0 at home to Hearts and won 1-0 at Kilmarnock.
On February 26, Hamilton drew 1-1 at home to Celtic, with Eamonn Brophy getting the goal. They finished 10th that season.
Season 2016-17 saw Hamilton win a play-off final against Dundee United, with Greg Docherty scoring their winner at New Douglas Park to stay in the Premiership.
That season they drew 1-1 against Rangers at Ibrox on the opening day of the season on August 6, with Ali Crawford scoring a spectacular opener.
Hamilton beat Aberdeen 1-0 at home on both occasions , with an Alex D’acol penalty and a Michael Devlin header.
Another 10th-placed finish followed in Canning’s last full season, and there were some real highlights.
Accies stunned Scottish football by convincingly beating Hibs 3-1 at Easter Road on August 19, then drew 2-2 with Aberdeen on November 4.
Famously, Hamilton beat Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox on November 18, then drew 1-1 with Hibs at home the following week.
This season there have been some really heavy defeats, losing 6-0 at Hibs on October 6, 4-0 at St Johnstone on November 10 and 4-0 against Dundee on December 5.
Hamilton’s last win was 3-1 at St Mirren on December 1, and since then they have lost eight and drawn one, conceding eight goals without reply in January.
Martin has been here for a long time.. the two of us agreed that, moving forward, it was time for a change