Hamilton hit with fresh nine-point deduction over licensing issues

Hamilton have been handed a nine-point deduction in the latest major blow to hit the William Hill League 1 club.

Accies received the punishment from an SPFL disciplinary tribunal after failing to secure a bronze-level SFA club licence.

The SPFL revealed Hamilton had been given “multiple extensions” to the March 31 deadline.

A statement added that the club admitted breaching the rules because of a failure to provide audited accounts.

The punishment, on top of a previous six-point deduction, leaves Accies in eighth place in the table, four points above bottom club Kelty Hearts. They would be second without the deductions.

Hamilton’s previous points deduction came as a result of them paying trialists and amateur players while under a transfer embargo.

They were relegated last season after incurring a 15-point deduction for various rule breaches including wage and tax defaults, and were banned from signing senior professional players for the season in July after failing to fulfil tax obligations.

Sole director Gerry Strain last week lost his attempt to appeal against an SFA ruling that he was not fit and proper to hold a position within football, although he has vowed to challenge the decision elsewhere.

Jonny Towers, an executive at a loan company that recently bailed Accies out of further financial trouble, was appointed on the board in his place on Monday.

The Funding Globe provided finances at short notice when, according to an Accies statement, the club were “advised by majority shareholder Seref Zengin that, despite previous assurances, player and staff wages would not be paid” for December.

Zengin was also recently ruled not fit and proper by the SFA.

In a statement on Monday night, ahead of the tribunal, Accies said: “At this critical time, the club has formally requested guidance and support from both the SFA and SPFL to help ensure a stable and sustainable future for Hamilton Academical Football Club.”

Hamilton are currently under the leadership of acting head coach Darian MacKinnon following the resignation of John Rankin in the wake of the latest uncertainty over wage payments.

They left the Lanarkshire town in the summer to play at Broadwood in Cumbernauld after a breakdown in talks with the club’s former owners, who kept hold of New Douglas Park when Zengin acquired a majority stake in 2023.