Outgoing Hamilton Accies owner Colin McGowan has announced that a takeover of the club is almost complete in a farewell message to fans. McGowan exclusively revealed to Lanarkshire Live Sport last month that the club was on the verge of new ownership and he stated that he would resign once a deal is delivered. 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.
Since taking ownership of the club, Accies have suffered back-to-back relegations and McGowan’s departure will be welcomed by sections of the support. Hamilton Academical Football Club was sold by previous owner Ronnie McDonald – who bought the club for £1 in June 2003 with debts of £5.3m – to McGowan in November 2021, ending McDonald’s 18-year stint in control.
In a statement signed off as director of Edencrest Limited, the company that will remain owners of New Douglas Park – Mr McGowan offered his heartfelt thanks to the board of directors for their support in helping the club climb up through the divisions, survive the cyber fraud of 2017, hold things together during the pandemic years and protect the Elite Youth Academy while the first team faced back-to-back relegations.
The statement also wished good luck to the new owners, who are still unknown, and praised their work, reminding fans of the many achievements made by the previous board which included bringing 10 years of Premiership football to New Douglas Park while developing a top tier academy. McGowan personally thanked his small group of loyal staff, supporters, friends, and sponsors for their help during his tenure, which gave him a platform to pursue his passion of working in the field of addiction.
Hamilton Academical Football Club has gone through a period of transition under Mr McGowan, and fans will undoubtedly be hoping for a fresh start under the new owners. As the club prepares to return for pre-season training on Wednesday, fans will be eagerly awaiting news of who their new owners will be and what their ambitions are for the club.
