Rankin quits Accies in row over wages

JOHN RANKIN quit crisis club Hamilton last night after being forced to chase late wages for his players hours before a 4-0 Scottish Cup defeat to bitter rivals Airdrie.

- ANDY McINNES

The Accies boss quit on the spot after four years in charge, admitting he'd spent Friday desperately hunting down overdue payments so his squad could finally be paid at 11.55pm.

Rankin revealed the chaos, which has also seen the League One club left without any directors after the SFA ruled chief executive Seref Zengin and Gerry Strain were not fit and proper, had pushed him to breaking point.

He said: "I'm stepping away. I'm delighted with my players' efforts - but they're no longer my players.

"I can't be a front. I can't ask players to follow me when I don't know what direction we're going in.

That has become a big problem.

"This isn't heat of the moment. I've put my kids and wife on hold. It's been building up since Monday.