HAMILTON ACCIES BAN LOCAL NEWSPAPER FOLLOWING WAGE BILL REVELATIONS AT CRISIS-HIT CLUB

Crisis club Hamilton Academical has banned the local newspaper, The Hamilton Advertiser, from access to players and refused to engage with the publication going forward, following revelations about the wage bill at the League One outfit.

Over the past 18 months, the Hamilton Advertiser and Lanarkshire Live Sport - the online brand of the Advertiser which covers Accies - has been at the forefront of the coverage relating to their controversial move to Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, dramatic disputes with the Scottish Football Association and the SPFL, as well as the change in ownership which has taken place over the last few weeks.

At the start of this month, the publication exclusively revealed that Seref Zengin had sold his majority stake in the club to entrepreneur Rob Edwards and that he was the new owner of the football club.

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Mr Edwards took exception to the publication reporting that he had become the club's new owner before a public announcement and has refused to engage with us since.

And now Mr Edwards, who has spoken about wanting to "create a community feel at Hamilton", has moved to remove the local newspaper's access to the club.

The Hamilton Advertiser, launched back in 1856, has covered the club since its inception in 1874, forging strong links with players, managers and staff, and this action is understood to be unprecedented.

Following a story this morning which highlighted the magnitude of the wage bill issues facing the League One club and the fact the club paid players a 'safety bonus' despite being releagted last season, Accies have moved to ban the publication from games and accessing players/staff for regular matchday reporting.

Among many startling revelations, the club paid out bonuses for staying up last season, even though they were relegated by a points deduction. A number of players no longer with the club are also still being paid as a consequence of a transfer embargo imposed at the start of the season, costing the club close to £100,000. Many key players have - and will be - off-loaded in an attempt to cut costs.

An email from the club today read: "I am writing to formally inform you that Hamilton Academical FC will no longer be engaging with you.

"This decision follows a series of articles published over the last 18 months which the club believes have not reflected a constructive or professional relationship between yourself and Hamilton Academical FC.

"With immediate effect, we ask that you also refrain from contacting any players or members of staff in relation to club matters.

"Should there be any official statements or updates from the club, these will be communicated through our established public channels.

"We trust this position is clear and will be respected."

This position comes after a turbulent 18 months at the club which has seen the Advertiser keep Accies in the news on both the front and back pages, from the club's 15-point deduction that would eventually relegate the club from the Championship, to coverage of a fraud investigation at the club, the threat of administration, financial mismanagement and the 'pausing' of their renowned youth academy.

In June 2025 we also exclusively revealed that the Hamilton Accies Women's team had been banned from using the club's intellectual property/badge and that the club intended on starting its own separate women's team.

An exclusive Q&A with former owner Seref Zengin in November provided many bombshell claims, including that the SFA were trying to ‘sabotage’ the club and that a member of the SFA’s disciplinary appeal panel ‘turned up wearing a Hawaiian shirt and swigging a can of Monster energy drink’. He also said someone with 'deep pockets' would be required to save the club.

And, more recently, the publication has reported on the on-going saga regarding the change of ownership and the emergency funding provided by The Funding Globe and club director Jonny Towers, which still threatens to plunge the club into administration with the Funding Globe calling in their loan.

The Advertiser/Lanarkshire Live Sport will continue to report on the club without fear or favour.

2026-01-18T20:08:35Z