Livingston boss says Hamilton new boy Steve Lawson is above Championship level as he gives 'better than Odoffin' verdict

David Martindale believes Hamilton Accies' have landed a player of Premiership standard in new signing Steve Lawson.

And he insisted the versatile player is better technically than Livingston's last great export to Accies, Hakeem Odoffin.

The Livingston gaffer worked with the right-back for three years and was surprised it took him six months to find a new club after departing the Lions in the summer.

The 27-year-old became Accies’ fourth January signing on Wednesday behind defender Dan O’Reilly, winger Ellis Brown and forward Kai Kennedy, and Martindale believes it’s a real coup for Stuart Taylor’s side in their first season since being relegated to the Championship.

The Togo international featured 65 times for the Lions, scoring one goal, which coincidently came against Accies in a six-goal thriller in 2019 at New Douglas Park.

And now Martindale has lifted the lid on what Accies fans can expect from their latest recruit.

He said: “Steve is a really good lad and is very intelligent, articulate and well educated.

"I’m really surprised that he’s not had a club first and foremost and secondly that he’s playing in the Scottish Championship and I don’t mean that disrespectfully.

“I’m just happy to see him back playing football again and I’m glad that he has gone to Hamilton because it’s a club I know really well and a club that I have a lot of time.

"Hamilton have signed a very good football player.

“He’s got a lot of ability and very good technique. He’s very athletic, box-to-box and I think he’ll be a standout in the Scottish Championship as he’s a very good football player.

“Steve’s got a lot of great attributes. He likes to go forward with the ball, has a very good right foot and his athleticism is fantastic as he