Hamilton Accies hit by transfer ban after failing to pay staff and tax

Hamilton Academical has been hit with a season-long transfer ban after failing to pay players on time last season.

The club will not be permitted to register new senior players over the course of the season as punishment for issues surrounding wages for players and staff, and also for defaulting on their tax obligations.

Accies, who were relegated to League One after a points deduction last season, will still be allowed to sign young players or amateurs.

The decision was made at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, where the troubled Lanarkshire club admitted breaking the rules.

A statement from the league body read: “The SPFL can today confirm that an independent disciplinary tribunal has imposed a season-long transfer embargo on Hamilton Academical FC.

“The William Hill League 1 club was already subject to a transfer embargo following remuneration and tax defaults which were determined or admitted during season 2024/25.

“Any SPFL club that fails to settle its tax obligations or pay its players on time is subject to an automatic transfer embargo under SPFL Rules.

“At a hearing which took place on Thursday, July 24, Hamilton Academical FC admitted to further breaches of SPFL Rules by failing to settle its tax obligations to HMRC on three occasions, and for failing to notify the SPFL that it had been in default of its tax obligations to HMRC on each occasion, as required by SPFL Rules.

“Following these latest admitted breaches by the club, an independent disciplinary tribunal imposed the following sanctions: a transfer embargo which will remain in place until the opening of the registration window, which follows the end of season 2025/26; and a fine of £7,500 – £5,000 of which is suspended.”

The struggling club admitted financial problems at the start of last season when players were not paid on time but they competed in the Championship and avoided serious punishment until the end of the season when they were called to account for failing to notify the SPFL of payment issues and “a failure to act with the utmost good faith”.

They were also punished for incorrect information regarding stadium ownership in their official paperwork and for other administrative issues.

That resulted in a points deduction that confirmed their relegation.

Towards the end of last season, the South Lanarkshire club announced that they were relocating to Broadwood for the 2025/26 season and plans to build a new stadium after rejecting a proposal to continue leasing New Douglas Park from the club’s former owner.

Accies fans now face a 28-mile round trip to Cumbernauld for games this season.