Brian Rice believes Lee Hodson will be the perfect role model for his upcoming Hamilton kids.
Record Sport broke the story and the Accies boss is delighted to have landed the Northern Ireland international on loan from Gillingham.
Rice has previously worked with the versatile defender at Watford and St Mirren and reckons he is just what his Accies squad needs.
The former Rangers player, 28, has previously had spells in Scotland with St Mirren and Kilmarnock.
Rice said: “It is the third time I have worked with Lee. “He was at Watford and St Mirren when I was there. He is a great professional and a top role model for my kids. Lee is also a top, international player who can play and cover a variety of positions for me.
“It is great to finally have him in the building because I have been trying to get him in all summer.
“The problem was the uncertainty over what was happening with the lower leagues but now things have been resolved and we have managed to get him up from Gillingham.”
Accies have also taken striker Jay-Jay Hooper on trial. The 26-year-old had a stint at Kilmarnock earlier this month.
Hooper is a free agent after leaving Wrexham and he has also had permanent spells at Port Vale, Grimsby Town and Northampton.
The Lanarkshire are also looking for another goalkeeper to fight it out with Ryan Fulton and to compete with Kyle Gourlay.
Meanwhile, Accies were drawn in Group F in the Betfred Cup.
They will face Ayr United, Stranraer, Albion Rovers and Annan Athletic.
Rice knows his Premiership side go in as favourites and he admitted that it is a competition they will be giving their all to progress in.
“It is a national cup and we will be treating our group seriously,” Rice passionately stated. “I know some teams have treated the group stages as pre-season in recent seasons but we won’t be.
“Our season is up and running and we want to do as well and get as far as we can in the competition. It is a national cup and we want to try and progress as far as we possibly can.”
