New Hamilton Accies Women boss says it was the right time to go for top job

New Hamilton Accies Women boss Robert Watson says it was the right time to step up, after eight years as assistant, and was delighted that the club agreed.

Watson arrived in 2015 as assistant to Gary Doctor, who stepped down after the club’s play-off win over Gartcairn retained their SWPL1 status in the final game of last season.

While the aim is to improve on that league finish, Watson says targets must be realistic, and that continuity could be key to a successful campaign.

He said: “I’m really pleased to have got the role.

“After eight years as assistant, I felt it was the right time for me to put my name forward to be the head coach at the club, and I’m really delighted that the committee have accepted that.

“I know the club inside out. There have been players who have been here consistently for the time I have been, you get to know people in and around the stadium, and in our own academy and things, it’s all about working as one big team.

“There isn’t that period of rebuilding those relationships, because they’re already there, and that’s a big positive.

“We’ll have a little bit of a turnover of players, as you do in any season, but the players who are staying I know very well, they know me, and hopefully some of the others I’ve identified and that we’re hoping to get in will add to the squad and continue that strong finish to the season that we had.”

Accies ended the season 11th, despite picking up some good wins in the bottom six split, and were two points behind rivals Dundee United and three off Aberdeen.

Watson reckons those battles this coming season will be key.

He said: “We finished 11th, so I could say we want to get to the top six, that’s obviously the dream, but we’ve also got to be realistic.

“The main