Hamilton Academical ended their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a 5-0 victory over Elgin City, with Stuart Bannigan scoring twice and Cammy Blues, Gregor Crookston and Andy Ryan also on target. The win gave manager Darian MacKinnon a selection headache ahead of their League One opener at Montrose.
Accies finished behind Kilmarnock in Group H and missed out on the knockout stages, but MacKinnon was pleased with the performance.
Professional performance
“We were really good, there were some nice passages of play and it was a really professional performance,” MacKinnon told the club media. “You need everyone to chip in over the season. Banzo has come up with two today; one was a penalty and the other was outrageous from the edge of the box volley into the top corner.”
He added: “He actually said to me when he came off he’s never had a hat-trick before, but this is not about one player, it is about the team and getting ourselves set up for Montrose.”
Selection dilemma
“When you are putting the squad together, you want competition for places. With Chucky [Ryan] coming back and getting his goal, Stephen Bradley coming back as well, it gives me tough decisions,” MacKinnon said. “It makes the place better and keeps everyone on their toes because everyone wants to start.”
He also stressed the focus had already shifted: “It means nothing now though, the full focus is on Montrose. It was a great performance but it is dead now and it is on to the next one.”
Off-field stability
Although Accies have appeared to break a number of SPFL rules in recent months over pension contributions and failing to pay some players on time, the governing body appears to have taken a sympathetic view to the club’s financial issues. They look set to start the season without points deductions or penalties.
The club now heads into their first full League One campaign under new ownership as one of the title favourites, following a summer of spending that brought in Andy Ryan, Dom Thomas, Kalvin Orsi, Taylor Sutherland, Stuart Bannigan, Cameron Blues, Aaron Comrie and Dean Lyness. Fergus Owens was re-signed, while Kyle MacDonald, Stephen Hendrie and Stephen Bradley agreed new multi-year deals.
Return to New Douglas Park
Hamilton are back playing at New Douglas Park after cutting short a two-year lease at Broadwood, which ended after just one year.
Barry Maguire departs
Last week, the club announced that Barry Maguire has left. The 28-year-old midfielder, the club’s highest paid player last season, departed after an injury-hit two-year spell. Maguire moved from Motherwell in 2024 but spent 12 weeks out with a groin tear at the start of the 2025/26 season under former boss John Rankin. His last Accies appearance was a 3-2 Challenge Cup defeat to Edinburgh City at Broadwood in August 2025.
A club statement read: “Hamilton Academical Football Club can confirm that Barry Maguire has departed the club on the expiry of his contract. The 28-year-old midfielder joined the club in the summer of 2024, following the expiry of his contract at Motherwell FC, and went on to make over 45 appearances for the club across all competitions. A reliable player in both midfield and defence, Barry leaves with our thanks for his commitment to the team, and our best wishes for the future.”
