Andy Ryan has left the building

[smc4761]

Well even the slightest chance we had of staying up has now gone. From Accies Twitter feed

Striker Andy Ryan has departed us this morning for Irish Premier side Larne.

The club, who we played here in a pre-season friendly, have been keeping tabs on him all season, and with the player’s contract due to expire shortly, and Andy keen on this move, with the prospect of possible Champions League football in the summer, he has chosen to go now after Larne submitted a bid late on Sunday.

It goes without saying that we say goodbye to a very popular player here, across his two spells, and who had commenced on the coaching path here recently as well. He was very much an Accie.

Saturday against Ross County was his 149th Accies appearance and perhaps fitting that his last touch was to score the penalty sending us into the next round of the Scottish Cup.

He joins ex Accie Shaun Want at Inver Park, and Chucky leaves with our very best wishes, and who knows, perhaps he may return for a third spell here in the future

[TerracingTomas]

Ffs An absolute shambles of a club. I thought Andy was one of our better signings and I know he has a young family so I assume there is a bit of money in it for him. Sorry to c him go but he tried his best. Maybe the money freed up will go to bringing in a top class signing even if it’s only a short term contract. But honestly we are still fighting for our survival and we let him go. Smacks of some of the decisions Mcgoofey made at Raith Rovers. Selling players for peanuts so he could get some cash.

[smc4761]

Cant blame him for going. He must know the club is a shambles and have virtually no hope of staying up, thats now gone. Larne are doing well in Irish league and have potential to play in Europe. So for Andy not a difficult decision, play in Europe or play at Alloa,Kelty, falkirk etc.

Good luck to the lad hope he does well

You can pretty much guarantee the board know the club if fooked, and they have no intention of investing in playing squad. We might be lucky to get another loan, but its back to yoof one again. The young lad One is decent but come on can you expect the 16 year old to lead the line in a team that is struggling badly

[porcupine]

Really hard news to take.
But Chukky knows the club better than many so for personal financial reasons, it's a sound move for him, and very best wishes to him. He always gave 100+% and that was no more evident than on Saturday, when he came on and immediately changed the a=game in our favour with his tenacity and getaboutthem attitude.

We have no one up front with his experience and skills so my earlier posts about having seen the seed of escaping relegation, have now to be retracted.

Cash raising exercise by the CEO in the absence of six figure sums being unavailable from "Sponsors" ??

[TerracingTomas]

Daily Record report on the transfer

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/loc ... n-29027240

[Red and white hoops]

Oh well, all the positivity from Saturday has disappeared now. A strange decision to let our only half decent goal threat go at this stage of the season. Unless the board have a massive signing up their sleeve that’s relegation all but confirmed in my opinion. An untested Newcastle loanee with a grand total of zero first team appearances isn’t going to be enough.

[Stevie Clarke]

I'd rather we kept him but when was the last time he scored in the league? Was it the Cove 4-4? Maybe young Stephenson will be a step up from Andy. Can't blame him as Larne are minted and despite a recent slump are still well placed to win the league. How could he turn down the prospect of playing Skonto Riga next season?

[YeOldeHamiltonian]

My Newcastle sources say Stephenson is a class above the level of De Bolle and they want him "toughened up" as well as getting match day experience in a pressurised situation.

As for Chucky, disappointed he has left but the issue here is twofold:

1)Did we take the cash knowing he was going end of the season anyway?

2)Will the funds be reinvested in a decent replacement?

Time will tell,but of course the alternative is are they planning for The Seaside Leagues and thus getting rid of decent earners?

2)Will it cost us more if we go down thus rendering yesterday's cash grab as foolish and short sighted?

[smc4761]

McGowan is a man only intersted in money and his wee pet project. He will take anything and everything out of the club that he can. He does not give a feck if we are in seaside leagues or Lowland league

When, not if, we go down, he will offload as many of players that he can and have Rankin or some other poor sod, use a team of yoof. I would be surprised to see players like Fulton, Martin, still with us next year. McGowan will be gone as will Sheena

[smc4761]

Hamilton Accies have completed the signing of Newcastle United striker Dylan Stephenson on loan until the end of the season,

Hope the lad does well, but a young in experienced player, not exactly a great situation for him or the team. A team low on confidence and a fan base many of whom are at war with the board, does not bode well

[smc4761]

Maitland gives his reasons for selling Andy Ryan

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/loc ... y-29041176

[TerracingTomas]

If you weren’t aware of the player you would think, here’s a guy with no loyalty, not going to sign a new contract and can’t wait to get away. Whereas he was one of the few who played for the badge and would still be here if he had been offered a new contract. Even if he signed a pre contract I have no doubt we would have got 110% from him for the rest of the season. Whatever he has gone and his Newcastle replacement is unproven. Meanwhile we have heard it all before about one or two more coming in before the window closes. It’s experience with some pedigree we are needing.

[porcupine]

Head yesterday from a reliable Ayrshire source that Darvel are paying some of their players up to £800p.w.
Suspect we are no where near that for most of our squad. Hardly surprising, if proved, that we cannot attract anyone of quality, or that Chukky has gone for greater income for his family, in the remaining years of his footballing career.

[YeOldeHamiltonian]

Darvel are another Gretna in the making:unsustainable, no decent ground infrastructure or population to sustain it and paying wages better than half our League-never mind The Seaside Leagues.

As for Chucky,one of the few who tried a leg and a sad loss which could easily be overcome if we had a Board with any nous or ambition but McGowan's Junkieville Project is the main rider, so we know where the land lies sadly.

[manxaccie]

I still think the Andy Ryan transfer is a bit of a disappointing one. Is he the type of player who wouldn't try 100% after signing a pre contract elsewhere? He appears to be a popular player throughout the club and received a warm farewell that not everyone receives. We are in a dog fight and surely selling your captain sends out all the wrong signals - regardless of receiving a bit of money now for him?

I don't think he was the best player in the world, but even having him in and around the squad, sitting on the bench to support his very young strike partners when necessary, surely that is a no brainer given our predicament. Are young loan players in a relegation fight the right idea?

Arbroath are fair turning over a fair few players, so it remains to be seen whose policy will prove decisive.

[TerracingTomas]

He was given a starting place today for Larne away to Newry City. Sadly a 0 - 0 draw.

Match report and excellent photo of Andy in action.

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/foo ... e-26103455

[TerracingTomas]

Just scored his first goal for Larne tonight away against Dungannon Swifts