‘Massive blow’ as Hamilton given transfer embargo

With a season without signing a senior player, Hamilton Academical has described their most recent transfer ban as “another massive blow.”

The SPFL “did not settle its tax obligations” and the League 1 club received a ban.

The league body stated that Accies were already subject to a transfer embargo “as a result of remuneration and tax defaults that were determined or admitted during the seasons 2024 and 2025.”

John Rankin’s side finished bottom of the Championship and was relegated to the bottom after a 15-point deduction last season.

The serious flaws in our finance and administration departments were directly related to the abominable circumstances that have plagued the club’s operation for the past two seasons.

The circumstances and environment that were once dominant have been left to the past, and the finance and administration departments have now been completely rebuilt.

The club is still in the early stages of negotiating new investments and strengthening the board, according to the club, which includes appointing a new chief finance officer and head of administration.

Hamilton Academical FC admitted to further breaking SPFL rules by failing to pay its tax obligations to HMRC on three occasions and failing to notify the SPFL that it had been in default of its tax obligations to HMRC on each occasion.

The league body added that the suspension for the 2025-26 season will be lifted, along with a £7,500 fine and a £5,000 suspension.

A club that is subject to a transfer embargo this season may register amateur players or professional players born on or after January 1, 2006 in accordance with SPFL rules.

Hamilton has won one of their Premier Sports Cup group games this season, and they have also lost two of them. On Saturday, they wrap up their Group E campaign at home in Dumbarton. The Accies’ League 1 opener is against Montrose on Saturday.

After making the decision to look for an alternative ground after a dispute over stadium ownership and rental at New Douglas Park, where they had played for 24 years, the South Lanarkshire club will play their home games at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld this year.