Hamilton season preview: Accies will have to defy the odds all over again – and with Brian Rice, who’s to doubt they won’t?

This is Brian Rice’s first full campaign as a manager in his own right.

The 55-year-old has bags of experience as a coach and manager, which is probably ideal for Accies.

Rice will need to coax the best out of a collection of emerging youngsters and journeymen.

He’s a man most comfortable on the training pitch – ideal for a club where big fees and wages simply aren’t on offer.

He would like Hamilton to approach a new season without being favourites for the drop.

That’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. But they keep defying the odds and there’s no reason to believe they can’t do it again under Rice.

TRANSFERS

In: Brian Easton, Owain Fon Williams, Will Collar, Blair Alston, Markus Fjortoft, Dylan Forrest, Kyle Gourlay, Ciaran McKenna, Johnny Hunt.

Out: Ziggy Gordon, Tom Taiwo, James Keatings, Dougie Imrie, Gary Woods, Alex Penny, Lennard Sowah, Matt Kilgallon, Delphin Tshiembe, Jacob Marsden, Hamish Morrison.

It’s the usual selection of well-travelled players and wildcards arriving at the Fountain of Youth stadium.

Owain Fon Williams is a quality keeper, who will prove crucial if he can recapture the form that saw him capped by Wales during his time at Inverness Caley Thistle.

Brian Easton’s experience will be useful at the back if he can stay fit. But there’s still a lack of goal threat.

Hamilton were the top flight’s lowest scorers last season with 28. They’ll hope youngster Ross Cunningham can solve that problem.

Although he was appearing less in recent seasons, Accies will miss the drive and devilment provided by the now-retired Dougie Imrie.

TARGET

Very simple, Accies are out to retain their top-flight status.

If they can replicate last term’s 10th-place finish, then it’s job done. Anything better will be a massive bonus.

Brian Rice would like the club to aim higher and has consistently stated that he wants to play attacking football.

It’s an admirable philosophy, but he’s also realistic enough to know his team will have plenty of games where being efficient and ugly is just as important to secure a point or three.