Let down and angry as points appeal is rejected

Boss opens upon emotions behind scenes as players react to relegation

- Paul Thomson

Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin says his players feel angry and let down by their controversial relegation from the Championship, but insists his side have 'finished the season seventh' in his mind.

The South Lanarkshire side were officially relegated last Thursday night when they lost their appeal over a 15-point deduction enforced by the SPFL for multiple rule breaches.

And last Friday night they played their final game of the season in the second tier, giving Falkirk a fright before the Bairns roared back to win 3-1 and pip Livingston to the league crown in a dramatic title race.

A place in League One awaits Hamilton now, but for Rankin - whose side have been relegated through no fault of their own - he says in his own mind the club have finished 15 points better off than the official table suggests, putting them seventh.