Billy Reid leaves as manager of Hamilton

THE tenure of the longest serving manager in Scottish football came to an end yesterday when Billy Reid parted company with Hamilton Academical after almost eight years in charge at New Douglas Park.

The parting is amicable and came just a day after a 2-1 win over Dumbarton that lifted the First Division side into seventh place in the table, six points clear of the relegation play-off zone.

Reid said: “This has been on my mind for a while and probably since the previous chairman, Ronnie MacDonald, left almost a year ago. No disrespect to Les Gray, the present chairman, but it was Ronnie who brought me here and who I worked closely with during our First Division win and our three-year spell in the SPL.

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“I have probably been unsettled since then so I had a chat with the club and decided to look for something new. There has been no fall-out or anything like that. It is just time to move on.”

Gray said in a statement: “The club would like to thank Billy for his almost eight years in charge – a period which has seen the club at its highest level in almost 80 years.

“We won promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2008, had three seasons in the SPL – including a seventh-place finish – three Scottish Cup quarter-finals and two Ramsdens Cup finals.

“The decision to separate was an amicable one. Billy felt he needed a fresh challenge and the club was like-minded. It was simply and naturally felt that it was the right thing to do at the right time.”

Gray added: “Billy has already indicated that he will be at Dunfermline to support the team on Saturday and will be at the home game versus Airdrie United next Tuesday as well.”

Club captain Alex Neil and Academy Director Frankie McAvoy will assume first-team duties until the end of the season, with club director and former manager Allan Maitland also expected to help out.

Neil insists Reid can be proud of what he achieved at New Douglas Park. The midfielder – also the club’s Under-20 coach – was one of Reid’s first signings in 2005 and an integral part of the team that played in the SPL for three years after being crowned First Division champions in 2008.

Neil said: “I don’t think anyone can call into question what he achieved while he was at Hamilton.

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“I was part of it as a player and they were great times for Hamilton for a number of years.

“Billy certainly leaves with his head held high as far as I’m concerned. I enjoyed working with him for the time I did and now it’s sad he has gone.

“It came as a bit of a shock. All the players were surprised. I think Billy and the club agreed that both of them wanted something a little bit different just now and have separated on amicable terms.

“But I don’t think that takes away from the surprise element. He had been there eight years and I’ve worked with him for a long time now. For him to be gone, it’s still sinking it really.

“It was Billy who brought me here. I was one of his first signings, so we’ve worked really closely for a number of years now and I’m disappointed he’s gone, but I can understand that he wants to try pastures new and the club are wanting to go down that direction as well.”

Neil, 31, insists he has given no thought to whether he would be interested in the job on a permanent basis.

He added: “It’s still sinking in that the gaffer has left. My sole focus is to make sure the team is prepared and ready for the game against Dunfermline on Saturday. I’m not thinking long-term at all.

“This season is my first one back playing regularly again [after injury] and I want to continue to play. I’ve not thought about anything like that.”