Former Rangers midfielder won't be joining Hamilton Accies amid reports of 'trial offer'

Hamilton Accies have dismissed reports they are bringing former Rangers winger Josh McPake in on trial with a view to joining them.

The club’s director of football, Gerry Strain, says the Coatbridge ace will instead be using their facilities to keep fit, while the player eyes a move elsewhere.

McPake’s wages are well out of Hamilton’s budget and the 22-year-old’s likely destination is believed to be down south, where he has enjoyed loan spells at the likes of Tranmere Rovers and Harrogate Town in recent years.

It was reported last week that McPake, who spent last season on loan from Rangers at Queen's Park, was going on trial in the hope of winning a move after being released by the Ibrox side last month.

And Strain said: “Josh is a cracking lad and a cracking talent, but we won’t be signing him.

“I think he is due to start training at New Douglas Park on Thursday, just coming in to keep himself ticking over so he can eventually get a move.

“He is just coming in to train at our place, but there is no trial and he won’t be signing. He is utilising our facilities.

“We are giving him a platform to train.

“We have a wage budget that is half of what it was last season.

“I’m reading we are paying £1,500 or £2,000 a week and that is a lot of nonsense. It is nowhere near that . We have reduced our wage bill significantly and Josh isn’t within our reach.

"We have a great working relationship with his agent, which has led us to offering facilities at the club."

Asked if they were actively looking for free agents to strengthen the squad, Strain added: “There are no signings in the pipeline right now and we are planning for January [the next transfer window].

"We have a shortlist in place for that and it will depend on if we need to