Date: 29th May 2025
With Dumbarton about to be under new Canadian ownership, the three Tayside clubs and Hibs also owned by North Americans, Brighton’s owner buying into Hearts (not the first outside-Scotland person to be involved there) to say nothing of the impending possible purchase of Rangers by a US organisation, many fans have, understandably, wondered if their team, their club, will retain its identity. South of the border we have seen attempts to change club strips/colours (Rangers in hoops anyone?) and also club crests/badges, often opposed by the fans of those clubs. Changing location, in extremis in the short term, is another thing which clubs’ fans have mixed feelings about, depending on the circumstances (bear in mind there have been three Hampden Parks).
Football history shows us that there are often sound reasons for football clubs to make such changes – and if anyone doesn’t believe Rangers once played a Scottish Cup semi-final in hoops, I can show them the picture. However, there are some things that are a bridge too far. In my case, as a Dundee fan, any proposal that we have a tangerine away kit would be a no-no, while a move up the Tay to Perth for a new stadium would lead to most Dee fans walking away from the club.
On that last point, how far is too far for fans to travel? This, and what appears to be widespread disquiet, anger even, about other things happening behind the scenes, is rapidly proving to be a defining issue in the history of one of Scotland’s most famous clubs, Hamilton Academical FC.
Stephen McGowan’s article in The Herald last week described the situation well. The current position, as we understand it, is that Hamilton’s directors want to move the club to Broadwood in Cumbernauld, because the owners of New Douglas Park will not let the Accies play there any longer.
The essential question, as far as the SFSA can see, is, “Do Hamilton fans realise that if Broadwood isn’t an option, the company could go bust…?” No-one wants this.
We decided to take the temperature, emailing a sample of our members who are Accies’ supporters. Others, who aren’t SFSA members, also got in touch. Here’s what they said…
“Absolutely devastated that the board of directors are planning to move us away from our home in Hamilton to Broadwood.”
“Hamilton has already experienced many years homeless and fans fought hard to get us back to Hamilton.”
“The stadium has a great memories for us fans but lot of emotional attachment for fans who have lost loved ones and have commemorative bricks on the wall.”
“I think the most disappointing thing is the lack of communication, consultation and engagement with fans from any of the parties involved.”
“As a fan I feel disheartened and helpless.”
“As an Accies fan of 40+ years and local businessman that has previously sponsored the club and had a hospitality box at the stadium, I am absolutely gutted and disgusted with our current board’s decision to leave Hamilton, where we fought for 8 years in the 1990s to get back to. I am even named after the stadium! Our fan base are 100% against the board and their decisions. The only member of the board to have any connections to Accies is Jock Brown who I fear is being led astray by the other two members…Our main aim is to stay in Hamilton and have the newly formed fans group to be involved in the running of the club and hopefully one day owning the club as a whole.”
“As a 73 year old Accies fan who has been following them in eight decades, I can say that the stories coming from the Accies board that they have a Supporters Group who “understands the reasons for moving to Broadwood and are right behind the move” is complete nonsense and systematic of what has come from them in recent times. The thinking of most Accies fans is that if the club leaves Hamilton and continues under the present regime, it will either at worst die, or at least never return to Hamilton. This must not be allowed to happen.”
“Myself I have no confidence in the current board. To be honest fans don’t know who to believe … The fans want to stay in Hamilton, get the stadium purchased and get rid of our so-called director of football.”
“The fact there are differing accounts on the feelings towards a move to Broadwood is a surprise to 99% of Accies supporters. This proposed move came about without any fan consultation whatsoever, and from what I can gather very little consultation with SPFL. Those currently in charge are destroying a 150 year old institution and must be stopped at all costs, many thanks for highlighting our situation.”
“Just wanted to email in relation to the Accies situation … The biggest issue with me is the fact that they didn’t once engage with the fans on it and made the decision on their own. In regards to moving out of Hamilton, if it meant that we had a proper contingency plan and proof we were coming back to Hamilton then it could be understandable and I would be open to this but the fact they haven’t engaged once about it means it’s hard to trust or believe anything they have to say. I don’t want to be going to be leaving Hamilton, especially not to go to Broadwood of all places. If they could prove they would build a stadium and showed us that South Lanarkshire Council agreed to planning permission etc., then I could maybe get it.”
“As an Accies supporter since 1970, I thought I’d seen it all but the initial Herald article claiming that a fans working group had backed Accies move to Broadwood left me as angry as I can recall in over 50 years of following my team. There are three social media platforms that attract active Accies fans, Accies World with nearly 592 members, We are Hamilton with 469 members and Pie and Bovril’s dedicated Accies topic. Not a single person across these three forums, representing a very significant proportion of our fan base (currently estimated to be circa 900), has expressed any knowledge of the fans working group. Nor is there any evidence that the Group has any real substance or has carried out any form of consultation to gauge the views of fans. To the contrary the views expressed across all three forums have consistently been opposed to such a move – which has proved a catalyst to the formation of the Accies Supporters Association to resist same.”
“In a former life I led a small team carrying out audits and inspections across some major Scottish public sector organisations. If there was one thing I learned it was that any recommendation or observation had to be evidence based. I would like to see the evidence base that allows the so-called Working Group to support Accies proposed move.”
“The last time the club was homeless the ‘home’ support was decimated, losing a significant proportion of its regular support, myself included. I do not think that support ever truly recovered, despite some success on the field in recent years. It follows that I am not in favour of such a move which I believe will see the club facing administration in the not too distant future – Yours disillusioned and disenfranchised…”
“At the moment, I feel completely disconnected from the club. In the past few months there have been some significant events that appear to threaten the existence of the club including: failure to pay players and other staff on time; a transfer ban; three Sheriff Court judgements for non-payment of debts; numerous instances of non-compliance with SPFL / SFA regulations resulting in the 15-point deduction; leaving New Douglas Park and the town of Hamilton. The board of directors have been unwilling to communicate clear reasons for all of these events either via written statements or in person at a fans’ forum which has been promised for many months. Excuses for not sharing information including “breaching SPFL Regulations” and “with the lawyers” have been given but these are barely credible reasons for silence on the matters.”
“I don’t recall how many seasons we have not had an active Supporter Liaison Officer so this conduit for communicating with the football club has not been available to us.”
“The poor decisions of the board and barely veiled contempt for supporters have been a source of unrest amongst the fanbase for quite some time but the announcement that the club would be moved to Broadwood has been a step too far. The consequence of this has been to galvanise the fanbase into action. Over the past few weeks, the Hamilton Accies Supporters Association has been re-animated after a well-attended meeting in the town. At this meeting it was unanimously agreed that the club leaving Hamilton was unacceptable, especially with the lack of consultation.”
“MSPs and candidates in the upcoming by-election have also voiced their disapproval of the plans to remove the club from the town. I, personally, have had correspondence with MSPs from across the political spectrum (Conservative, Green, Labour and SNP) who not only expressed their opposition to Hamilton Accies moving to Broadwood but also stating their interest in the establishment of an independent football regulator. The article that appeared in The Herald on 22nd May references the “Hamilton Academical Fans Working Group” who say that the Broadwood move is “difficult but necessary” appears to be some form of gaslighting by the football club’s directors. I can’t say there will not be a single Accies fan that holds the view that the move is necessary, but I have not heard this view voiced. Until this article appeared, I had never heard of the Working Group and have so far been unable to find out if it actually exists, when it was formed and who its members are.”
“I hope that the SFSA will take note of my views and those of the other Hamilton Accies fans and help those voices be amplified. A solution to keep the team playing at New Douglas Park needs to be found. If shining a light on the matter forces the football club and the stadium owners back to the table to work out their differences either of their own accord or at the command of the SPFL or SFA, it will be a step in the right direction.”
“Ultimately the aim of fans who have come together as the Hamilton Accies Supporters Association is to get representation on the board of the football club and work towards a form of fan ownership to safeguard the club for generations to come.”
“My husband and I are absolutely devastated that Hamilton Accies Board of Directors are trying to move the club to Cumbernauld. Like so many other fans and supporters we have great memories of games at New Douglas Park and we also have emotional ties to both the new ground, the old ground and the club itself.
“As you know Acccies were homeless for some 7 years leading up to the new ground opening in 2001 and supporters fought hard to get the club back to its home in Hamilton. The most devastating issue this time is the complete lack of communication, let alone consultation, with the fans and supporters. We have been completely ignored with absolutely no communication from anyone at the club about this proposal. Our fear is that should this move be allowed to go ahead we will never return to Hamilton and the club may well disappear forever.
“Like many supporters this club has been supported by my family for over 100 years. My Dad’s uncle took him age 5 and I can remember being lifted over the turnstiles at the old ground when I was 7 years old, some 60 years ago! My late father had a season ticket for most of his adult life and when he passed away in 2007 I acquired his season ticket seat which he had since the new stadium opened. Our emotional attachment includes 2 bricks in the wall of the new ground one for dad and one for me.”
“I appreciate the interest many have regarding what is currently going on at the club, and like many others, I have had concern about how the club has been run for many seasons now.
“I am fortunate and young enough that I have no memory of the club’s previous homeless years away from Hamilton. My only memories of Accies are at New Douglas Park – which I first attended back when the club was in the old first division. In fact, most of my time supporting the club has been split between the top flight and the championship. I realise how lucky this is for Accies fans!
“The catalogue of mismanagement at Accies has been well documented over the years, and incredibly disheartening. I could write about it in detail, but I’ll spare the details. However, I am vehemently against the move to Cumbernauld. As many others will no doubt tell you, I don’t see any way back to the town, especially if the intention is within a new stadium. There simply isn’t the available space to host a stadium – which isn’t already earmarked for housing developments. Therefore, like many other fans, I will not be purchasing a season ticket to attend matches at Broadwood. It is simply logistically too challenging to attend using public transport or walking, like I tend to do to most home games. I can drive and indeed do to many away games but will not be attending matches in Cumbernauld.”
“I am not aware of any fans who hold the view that Broadwood is a positive idea. If any do arise, I’d love to discuss the matter with them. New Douglas Park is and should be our home for many years to come. I am sickened of the actions of all involved in moving us from home.”
“I have been an Accies’ fan long enough to remember the years spent at various towns/cities across the central belt while we were homeless – in the main it was a demoralising period with the only hope that we would get back to Hamilton in the end. I don’t have the same hope of a return should we leave this time round. Without being dramatic, I think we are facing the end of the Accies as we know them today.”
No-one who got in touch expressed a contrary view. However, there must be a Plan B. If Hamilton, for whatever reason, are unable to play at Broadwood and can’t play in Hamilton, then they need a short-term fix, a stadium within reasonable travelling distance, even if it’s for a year or two. The fans need to buy their season tickets, for without that revenue, the club’s finances will deteriorate further, risking their very existence. It’s about buying time to keep the club going, while a longer-term solution, possibly – probably – involving a fan-owned club, is devised. That said, fans need to be aware that both the SFA and the SPFL need to give their consent for any stadium move.
The SFSA is in communication with the football authorities and with Hamilton Accies’ Supporters’ Club. This may seem to only affect Hamilton: it doesn’t, it affects every football fan in Scotland. One day, this may happen to your club. Consequently, all fans, from all clubs, need to join forces to support Hamilton Accies, one of this country’s most famous old clubs, and keep them in business.
Stuart Murphy, CEO, SFSA
Photo of New Douglas Park by Alasdair Middleton from Rothesay, Scotland, Wikicommons
Posted in: Latest News
Tags: Scottish football