Outgoing Hamilton Accies owner Colin McGowan has announced a takeover of the club is "almost complete" in a farewell message to fans.
The 68-year-old exclusively revealed to Lanarkshire Live Sport last month that the club was on the verge of new ownership, and Mr McGowan stated he would resign once a deal was delivered.
He has now told fans that process is nearing its completion ahead of the club returning for pre-season training on Wednesday.
In November 2021, previous owner Ronnie McDonald - who bought the club for £1 in June 2003 with debts of £5.3m - ended his 18-year stint in control when he handed the reins to McGowan, who was then the club’s chief executive.
Since then, Accies have suffered back-to-back relegations under McGowan's ownership, although the club won their first cup in 30 years in March when they lifted the SPFL Trust Trophy.
McGowan is a much maligned figure among Hamilton's fan base and there were calls for his resignation throughout last season, so his departure will be welcomed by sections of the support.
In a statement - which he signed off as director of Edencrest Limited, the company who will remain owners of New Douglas Park - Mr McGowan praised the board of directors and hailed the club's elite youth academy for producing top talent like James McCarthy, James McArthur and Lewis Ferguson during his spell at the club, which started 20 years ago.
And he has also offered a message of good luck to the new owners, who are, as yet, unknown.
Mr McGowan said: "With the sale of Hamilton Academical Football Club just about complete, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Board of Directors that have made this amazing journey possible.
"Without question the achievements of Ronald McDonald, Les Gray, Allan Maitland, to name but three, has been nothing short of spectacular.
"They, together with a board of unpaid directors all played their part in helping us climb up through the divisions, helped us survive the horrendous cyber fraud of 2017, helped hold things together during the pandemic years and have miraculously protected our Elite Youth Academy whilst our first team faced back-to-back relegations.
"Their many achievements include our first trophy in 30 years. They brought 10 years of Premiership football to New Douglas Park whilst developing a top tier Elite Youth Academy that have just successfully won both the Under 16’s and Under18’s Elite Youth Leagues.
"Our Elite Youth Academy gave players such as McArthur, McCarthy, Easton, Lewis Ferguson and many more their opportunities to kick on and play at higher levels. Not forgetting Alex Neil, Billy Reid and a score of other backroom staff that now work at higher levels across the country.
"For me personally, my true passion has been my work in the field of addiction as well as building a social conscience our community football club could be proud of.
"Hamilton Academical Football Club gave me the platform to achieve this and I genuinely don’t regret one moment of it.
"A special thank you to my small group of loyal staff. I’d also like to thank the vast majority of our supporters, my personal friends and of course our absolutely, unbelievably generous sponsors.
"There is no doubt in my mind, without them survival would have been difficult.
"So, that leaves me just to say, good luck to the new owners going forward and I wish them and Hamilton Academical Football Club all the success in the world."
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