Hamilton Accies boss on how Shaun Want's red card against Morton played a part in defender's exit

John Rankin has revealed Shaun Want's red card against Morton proved to be the catalyst for his Hamilton Accies exit after 15 years at the club.

The 25-year-old departed for Northern Irish Premiership side Larne yesterday, having first joined Accies just shy of his 10th birthday.

He made almost 70 appearances but struggles with injuries in the last couple of years, coupled with a loan spell at Peterhead last season, saw him fade from the first-team picture.

Want returned to the fold in the summer and while Rankin admits he was pleased with the work the defender had put in, his red card in a 1-1 draw with Morton - which wrongly handed the visitors a penalty after his foul was committed outside the box - proved to be a defining moment.

Rankin explained: "Shaun came back in the summer in great condition and did really well throughout pre-season but then in the first game of the season against Dundee he picked up a knock which made him miss the following game.

"He got himself into a good rhythm and was hitting a bit of form but then the sending off in the first game of the season against Morton that has basically turned it for him.

"At that time we were playing a different shape and now we've flipped it, so Shaun's game time would have been limited.

"He's been here a long time so it was important for him, the stage he is at, to go and play games.

"He's been through the youth system here, he's been a great help to me since I've come in and been a huge influence in the dressing room so it was important we didn't stand in his way and let him progress.

"We would never do that with any of our kids who have come through the system.

"It was good to let him go on good terms and further his career at Larne."

It may leave Accies a man