Hamilton CEO Colin McGowan has praised departing club owner Ronnie MacDonald as he outlines what's next in an open address to Accies supporters.
MacDonald relinquished the controlling interest he held for 18 years at the New Douglas Park club last month and long-time associate McGowan has taken control.
The 66-year-old will now decide the club's future custodians and three parties are interested. In his first official statement to supporters since the news, McGowan has praised MacDonald.
He started: "I’d like to take this time to firstly thank my good friend Ronnie MacDonald, who has stood down as a director of the club. Ronnie was an incredibly important asset to the football club throughout his time here.
"Under his tenure we remained in Scotland’s top flight for the longest period in the club’s history. Working alongside myself and the other directors we were also able to vastly reduce the debt which the club found itself in
"We have also developed a model which sold players who were developed in our youth academy, James McCarthy, James McCarthur, Brian Easton and Scott McMann to name a few.
"This is a model which the club is known throughout Britain for. I’d also like to wish him all the very best in the future."
McGowan adds that most of his time isn't spent watching football at Hamilton, but helping operations behind the scenes: "I have and never will hide from the fact that there are plenty of good men out there that know a lot more about football than I do.
"I believe this is a strength. During his time Ronnie also built a team of football minded people. Many of which are now major decision makers at the club.
"With his departure Allan Maitland, Les Gray, George Cairns, Stuart Taylor, Danny Docherty, Bob Hay, John Brown, Seref Zengin and many others will remain.
"My role in ensuring financial stability has not changed. Throughout my time I have worked to ensure that creditors of the club were paid promptly and worked to bring in commercial opportunities for the club.
"These opportunities bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds each year to the club. I believe the subject of on the field is well looked after and will continue to be looked after.
"The club has an absolutely incredible network of sponsors, many of which have become close friends of mine, many of these choose to support the club because they see the fantastic charity work we do and the work we do in the local community.
"This season we have managed to raise somewhere in the region of £50,000 from the various events which have taken place.
"This work not only benefits the community, but it also benefits the football club. I believe this is a win-win situation.
"In my working week I would say around 10% of my time is deployed in watching football.
"The rest of my time is spent exploring ways to raise vital funds for Hamilton Accies and the various charity elements which I am involved with.
"As co-owner for a number of years I have played a part in building a fantastic group of people who have the club’s best interests at heart.
"The board as a group take the decisions and aim to field the best team possible as determined by budgets."
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