Hamilton accies 'face spfl expulsion' over broadwood move, say fans' group

Hamilton accies 'face spfl expulsion' over broadwood move, say fans' group

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ACCIES SUPPORTERS' ASSOCIATION SAY THE 'CLUB 'S VERY EXISTENCE IS UNDER THREAT' 11:03, 31 May 2025Updated 11:03, 31 May 2025 Hamilton Accies could face being booted out


of the SPFL over their proposed relocation to Broadwood this summer. For a change of heritage, including stadium change, the club must prove that supporters back the move and, if not, they


won’t meet membership criteria. In that instance, it will go to a vote of the other 41 clubs, who could kick them out of the leagues. Fans’ group Accies Supporters’ Association are


challenging the club to prove they have a lease for Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, and say the club's very existence is under threat. The fans’ group say they met with SFA chief


governance officer Gary Booth and Calum Beattie, company secretary and director of operations at the SPFL, who they claim have not been given proof of Accies’ lease of Broadwood. Further to


this, they say that a reported ‘50-year lease’ of New Douglas Park was never signed, when the club was sold by stadium owner Colin McGowan to Seref Zengin in 2023. Article continues below


Hamilton Accies say that the ‘Hamilton Academical Fans Working Group’ reluctantly agreed to relocate to Cumbernauld, but ASA says while they bear no ill-will against the working group, they


claim it is ‘four or five hand-picked supporters’. In an open letter, Accies Supporters Association say ‘a gun is being held to the head of Accies fans’ who have to choose one of three


options: say ‘yes’ to Broadwood and force the club to produce a lease, say ‘no’ to the move and see if the club will ignore their wishes, or delay the vote until such a time as the SPFL have


seen an acceptable lease. The letter continues: “The SPFL stated if New Douglas Park is off the table, and the supporters don’t approve Broadwood, there is the very real possibility that


they will kick our club out of the leagues. READ MORE: Hamilton Accies boss challenges side to prove relegation wasn't deservedREAD MORE: Hamilton Accies boss 'respects


honesty' as stars use clause to exit club “If we don’t have a “home” stadium approved by the SPFL without further delay (we’ve already missed the deadline), we won’t meet their


Membership Criteria for next season and it’ll go to a vote of the other 41 SPFL members. “The SPFL’s desperation, as a result of the Accies Board’s antics, means that a gun is being held to


the head of Accies fans. We are devastated that the supporters have been put in a position where we are being asked to pull the trigger: move miles away from home due to a decision made by a


tiny number of individuals, or block that move and face the risk of expulsion from the SPFL.” Accies Supporters’ Association say that option one to say ‘yes’ to Broadwood isn’t a vote to


side with the board, would “simply buy us some time to fight another day”, and the ball would be back in the board’s court to produce a lease. Option two, saying ‘no’ to Broadwood “would be


a clear message to the SPFL that supporters do not want this move” and “it would be up to them to the SPFL to decide if they want to ignore our wishes”. Option three, to delay the vote,


would mean “the ball would be back in the board’s court to produce a lease for Broadwood” but with fixtures published next month, “we are unsure how much longer the SPFL are willing to


wait.” Article continues below Accies Supporters’ Association say that they have had to take the initiative ‘every step of the way’ and nobody from the club has ever approached to tell them


anything. They invite the board to “do your ‘fit and proper’ duty. Speak to supporters, explain yourselves, your strategy and your end-game. “We deserve better, not a gun to our head.”