Hamilton Accies are on the brink of relegation after being hammered with a 15-point deduction and £9,000 fine for multiple breaches of SPFL rules.
The Championship club were charged with a failure to notify the SPFL of remuneration defaults, incorrect information on stadium ownership, downgrading of their SFA club licence and the late provision of their membership criteria submission for next season.
Sitting seventh in the ten-team division before yesterday’s punishment was announced, Accies have been plunged into the automatic relegation spot with just three games remaining.
They are now eight points behind Airdrieonians who they replace at the bottom of the table.
With nine points to play for, there is still an outside chance that John Rankin’s Accies could escape automatic relegation, but they look certain to drop into League One for next season.
If the Lanarkshire side fail to beat Queen’s Park at home tomorrow, their demotion will be confirmed.
They host Livingston next Saturday and conclude the regular season with a trip to runaway leaders Falkirk on Friday, May 2.
The club have been rocked by a 15-point deduction and £9,000 fine from the SPFL
John Rankin’s side must win their last three games to stand a chance of staying in the division
Accies’ great escape bid starts when they host Queen’s Park at New Douglas Park on Saturday
An SPFL statement read: ‘Hamilton Academical Football Club (the “Club”) have today (17 April) received a 15-point deduction and been fined £9,000 after the Club was found to have breached multiple SPFL Rules by an independent SPFL disciplinary tribunal.
‘The SPFL Board had issued four charges against the Club and the Club were found by the independent tribunal to have breached SPFL Rules and have been sanctioned as follows:
‘Charge 1: Breach of Rules B1, E17 and E18 in relation to the failure to notify the SPFL of Remuneration Defaults in respect of six players and a failure to act with the utmost good faith in its representations to the SPFL Board regarding the lifting of a transfer embargo after previous Remuneration and Tax Defaults.
Sanction: Immediate 12 point deduction and £5,000 fine
‘Charge 2: Breach of Rule D4.3.2 in relation to the provision of incorrect information regarding stadium ownership in the Club’s Season 2024/25 Membership Criteria submission.
Sanction: £3,000 fine (£1,500 of which has been suspended)
‘Charge 3: Breach of Rule D4.8 in relation to the downgrading of the Club’s Scottish FA Club Licence overall award from Bronze to Entry level.
Sanction: Immediate 3 point deduction
‘Charge 4: Breach of Rule E28.7 in relation to the late provision of the Club’s Membership Criteria submission for Season 2025/26.
Sanction: £1,000 fine (fully suspended).’
Hamilton released a statement saying: ‘We are astonished and disappointed at the tribunal decision we have received this evening. We are awaiting the written reasons whereupon the board will meet to consider an appeal.
‘We would ask that all fans continue their excellent support of the players on the pitch, and the management team in the dugout, as we enter the final stages of the season.
‘Until any appeal process is concluded we shall be making no further comment.’
