Former Hibs midfielder and Hearts coach John Rankin has been named as the new head coach of Scottish Championship club Hamilton Accies.
The 39-year-old joined the South Lanarkshire club last year as Stuart Taylor's assistant and took the team on occasion when the boss was unavailable due to Covid. Taylor has recently exited the New Douglas Park club after a drawn out process rumbled on into their pre-season, with Rankin taking charge of early friendly matches ahead of their Premier Sports Cup campaign starting against Dundee next month.
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He's now been officially unveiled as their new boss as Accies prepare for a second season in the Championship. Rankin said: "I am privileged to sit here as the club’s new head coach. Speaking with Allan (Maitland, club chairman) and the board I believe that our vision for this football club is very much aligned. The fitness levels of the squad are very high but we want to keep improving between now and the Dundee game and I am looking forward to getting the new season underway.”
Rankin joined Hibs in 2008 and went on to make 111 appearances for the Hibees before departing for Dundee United in 2011.
He hung up his boots in 2020 after a stint at Clyde. His coaching journey had started long before that though as in In 2018, he was promoted to full-time U-18s manager and reserve team coach at Hearts.
His Jambos departure only came in December last year for what was his first senior coaching gig.
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