Jack Ross teams up with Billy Reid again

This time last year, most SPL observers were looking at Hamilton and wondered if they would fall foul of the tricky second season syndrome? There is definitely an argument that teams getting promoted have a large novelty factor and plenty of motivation to stay up in their first SPL season.

There is also the fact that they have an element of surprise in their opening campaign in the top flight in Scotland. All of this adds up to the fact that teams can struggle to stay away from a relegation battle in the SPL.

Hamilton Accies actually managed to improve last season and now leaves the club in a very different situation this summer. Should Billy Reid still be keeping his teams mind on staying out of a relegation dogfight or is a top six finish within reach for the Lanarkshire club?

Much has been made of the great players brought through the Hamilton Accies youth scheme, so much so that the WeKnowSFA team made a tshirt to celebrate the conveyor belt of talent but Billy Reid has brought in an older head to push the team on.

Jack Ross was released from St Mirren but Reid knows the player well from their time at Clyde so no doubt the Accies boss is aware of the impact Ross can have on the dressing room.

It is still likely that Accies will lose a few players this summer but there have been other new players coming in at New Douglas Park.

Andy Graham and Jim McAllister have joined up with the Accies from the lower leagues and Gavin Skelton has also signed on. We’ll be honest, we don’t like Gavin Skelton as a player, he comes across as a brutal tackler intent on injuring the opposition but this steel may be a handy addition for the Accies.

First things first, Hamilton Accies need to make sure they remain in the SPL but as soon as that aim is achieved, why shouldn’t they be dreaming of a top six finish?

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Defence of Scottish Cup begins away against regular foes.

Rangers and Hamilton clashed in both domestic cup competitions last season, with Rangers winning at Ibrox on both occasions. This season sees the action switch to Hamilton where both clubs will come under the glare of the Sky spotlight on Sunday 10th January with a 12.15 kick-off.

Rangers will start as favourites in this tie but the gap between top and bottom is starting to shrink with each passing year. Home advantage will see Hamilton enter the tie with a greater degree of confidence but this may not quite be enough.

Rangers will be playing this tie on the back of a New Year trip to Celtic Park, which may have a bearing on their mood for the Cup tie.

Celebrating the New Year with a drink is a traditional method of seeing in the year but celebrating defeating your biggest rivals and neighbours is an even bigger cause for a celebratory drink.

There are some people predicting that the January transfer window may have the biggest influence on the club’s season but a good cup run may bring joy and money to the Ibrox side. It is likely that no player will exit the club before this tie, ensuring Rangers are at full strength.

It is unlikely that any of the Rangers first team squad who could be sold off would be moving to another SPL club so being cup-tied is not likely to be an issue.

Mention of Rangers and Hamilton in the Scottish Cup inevitably brings up mention of Adrian Sprott and the famous 1-0 victory from 1987.

This is the one major Scottish Cup upset Rangers have suffered in the modern era (if just over 20 years ago still counts as the modern era) but it will ensure that Walter Smith will have his team fired up for the clash.

Another interesting aspect of this game comes in the fact there is a financial dispute between the two clubs arising from the Co-operative Insurance tie between the two at Ibrox in October 2008.

It turns out that the way the money is split between clubs (especially relevant in the modern era of season books and discounted prices for Cup ties) is determined by a “gentleman’s agreement” but along the way, there was a breakdown between both parties.

This revelation was broken by Roddy Forsyth of the Telegraph in May of this year and as far as can be found, the disagreement has not been resolved.

It is said the questionable amount relates to around £200,000, a reasonable sum for both clubs in this day and age.

Perhaps both clubs could add a “double or quits” element to the Active Nation Scottish Cup tie?

Rangers will start as favourites but an all SPL tie is always a tricky affair.

The Active Nation Scottish Cup Fourth-Round draw in full:

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Motherwell
Hamilton v Rangers
Morton or Dumbarton v Celtic
Hibernian v Irvine Meadow
St Mirren v Cowdenbeath or Alloa Athletic
Raith Rovers or Peterhead v Airdrie United
Dunfermline v Stenhousemuir or Cove Rangers
Forfar v St Johnstone
Clyde or Livingston v Dundee
Albion Rovers v Stirling Albion
Aberdeen v Hearts
Edinburgh City v Montrose
Partick Thistle v Dundee United
Ross County v Inverurie Loco Works
Ayr United v Wick Academy or Brechin
Kilmarnock v Falkirk

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