Life is on the up for Hamilton manager Neil

Accies’ gaffer revels in double victory over Celtic this week.

Hamilton Accies recorded a memorable win against Celtic last Sunday. And the Premiership leaders also managed a valuable victory over the Champions off the field.

Accies’ boss Alex Neil has revealed that Celtic tried to poach one of their talented youngsters, but they were able to fend off the approach.

The remarkable run of performances by the first-team stars is now helping their famed youth set-up.

He said: “Celtic came in for a kid in our system and it is probably the first time we have managed to keep a player under those circumstances. We managed to convince him and his parents this was the best place for him.

“That was certainly a turning point, because we have never been in a position where we have been able to keep players before.

“They generally moved on because maybe their parents were either Rangers or Celtic fans. We then get them back at 21 or 22, they have lost four years of their development when potentially they could have played in our first team at 18. They are lucky if they are playing for the Under-18s at an Old Firm club.”

Neil has seen at first-hand how players can develop by sticking with Accies.

James McCarthy and James McArthur both now full internationals plying their trade in England’s Premier League are the prime examples. However, many of the players who have taken Accies to the top have progressed alongside their manager. The current team is not an overnight success.

He went on: “When I was coaching the Under-20s, I had guys like Grant Gillespie, Ali Crawford, Ziggy Gordon and Mikey Devlin. Louis Longridge was another one as well, before he got moved up into the first team. So I am really familiar with most of them.

“When I was first-team captain, many of the guys broke into the side and I would be the one who looked after them, tried to guide them through and teach them the game. I think this is a special group.”

Many would say the Lanarkshire outfit also have a special young manager. The 33-year-old admits he is ambitious but still has a lot to achieve at New Douglas Park.

He went on: “I think anybody who knows me knows that I want to go on and do the best that I can. I want to take this team as far as I possibly can, and I still think there is a lot more scope for us.”

Their campaign restarts against Aberdeen on Friday night a game where Accies will treat the parents of all players at the club to hospitality.

Neil said: “The Celtic game is gone, we won and everybody has had their pat on the back for it.

“Come Monday morning it’s back to work and we’re completely focused for Aberdeen. Hopefully the players can rise to the occasion again.”