Hamilton Accies' sponsors 'keeping the lights on' as CEO Colin McGowan provides 'economic reality'

Hamilton Academical Football Club can’t run full-time without commercial income – and they could go BUST without it, according to chief executive Colin McGowan.

Accies are currently preparing for their second term in the Championship following their Premiership relegation last season.

There’s much doubt though over what comes next at New Douglas Park after a drawn-out process sees head coach Stuart Taylor’s exit still to be signed off as players return for pre-season.

But financially that isn’t the main area of concern for the football club, as commercially things have to keep ticking over amid slimming budgets.

Speaking on our Lanarkshire Live Sport podcast, McGowan revealed that sponsors keep coming back to Hamilton because of its ‘social consciousness’ and that football isn’t enough to keep things like their youth academy going.

When asked if season ticket and gate money could keep Hamilton full-time, he said: “No. It would not generate enough money to have an elite academy. It’s simple mathematics.

“I am not even sure if this club would exist. But because of the commercial income we can generate, not only do we survive, we flourish.

“The reality is that we had 10 years in the Premiership. You can’t fluke that. Physical season ticket and gate money makes this club unsustainable. So it’s actually a company that is very much centred commercially.

“The whole thing breathes on commercial income. I would like to have 3000 fans here like some other clubs. The commercial income would still be important, but not as important. We need to have it.

“If we stopped events and the work we do within the charity field... the sponsors love what we do. They have a social consciousness because of the things we do and they put their