Martin Canning leaves Hamilton Academical as manager
Tuesday 29 January 2019 12:36, UK
Hamilton Academical manager Martin Canning has left the club by mutual consent, chairman Allan Maitland announced in a statement on Tuesday.
Maitland said that the club will be advertising for a replacement. Sky Sports News understands the club has received over 60 applications already for the vacancy.
On Tuesday lunchtime, Maitland said the club intends to appoint a head coach rather than a manager, with the plan to have made a permanent appointment by the time St Johnstone visit on February 6.
In the meantime, Guillaume Beuzelin, who will address the media on Wednesday morning, and George Cairns will take charge of first-team affairs until further notice.
Canning, 37, became Hamilton player-manager in January 2015 and remained as manager for four years, maintaining the club's Scottish Premiership status.
But several players have departed the club in the last two seasons, including Michael Devlin, Eamonn Brophy, Lewis Ferguson and Ali Crawford, leasing to a fall in positive results.The board of directors and Canning agreed that a managerial change was needed in order for the club to progress.
Chairman Maitland's statement said: "I confirm that our manager Martin Canning has left the club by mutual agreement and we will be advertising for a replacement.
"The club would like to thank Martin for his commitment and efforts during his ten and a half years at the club as both a player and a manager.
"Saturday's match against Dundee will be very important as we try to get back to winning ways and we ask that all Hamilton supporters come along and get behind the team."
Canning played over 200 games for Hamilton, including their promotion-winning season in 2013/14.
He leaves the club in 10th place in the Scottish Premiership, with four wins and 14 points from 23 games this season.
