Hamilton Accies defender Matty Shiels says uncertainty over the boss this summer was just another hurdle at the club in recent years.
And the 21-year-old says the squad have done well just to stay where they are.
Since leaving Rangers for the New Douglas Park club in May 2021 they have been relegated from the Premiership, head coach Brian Rice then stepped down in August, and Stuart Taylor steered them to a sixth-placed finish in the Championship before parting company with Accies last week.
Taylor's assistant John Rankin has stepped up into the new head coach role, and was officially appointed at the club yesterday.
Shiels admits it has been a tough time and is sorry to see Taylor go, but says it didn’t change their preparation as Rankin led them to beat Northern Irish side Larne 3-0 on Thursday, before 4-0 and 9-0 wins over West of Scotland League sides Larkhall and Newmains United, respectively, on Saturday.
Accies now host League One newcomers Queen of the South on Saturday, before embarking on the Premier Sports Cup group stages, and Shiels believes they’re in a good place, heading into the new season, as they aim for promotion to the Premiership.
“It has been tough,” said Shiels. “I think all the boys have dealt with it very well. It’s been a tough few years for the club, and for myself – it’s not been great.
“But I think the boys have done well to still be where we are, and we’re looking strong for the season.
“[What happened] didn't affect us. It’s not nice, but it is just what happens in football.
“We just need to accept what has happened [with Stuart Taylor], and get on with it, because you can’t really change it, now.
“We’ve got Ranks now and he has been taking the training anyway.
“The target is to get back to the Premiership. That needs to be our goal, and that’s it.”
Shiels has enjoyed pre-season so far and said: “It has been tough, to be fair – Ranks has put us through our paces.
“It has kind of eased off, now the games are starting, but it has been tougher than what I expected.
“Larne was a good challenge, which I thought the boys played well in.
“We then had the local sides at the weekend, where it was good just to get minutes in, so it has been decent.”
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