Story by K38jfb 21 May 2005
Alex Neil joins Hamilton
Story by K38jfb 21 May 2005
Former Airdrie midfielder signs a two-year deal...
According to today's (Saturday) Daily Record, we have signed ex-Airdrie and Mansfield midfielder Alex Neil on a two-year contract. This rumour was posted on the AcciesWorld forum around lunchtime yesterday, so whether this rumour is true, or the papers have just decided to make a story out of it, it is anyone's guess. But it would appear to be the latter, as the AcciesWorld editor phoned up the club only to be told that there was no confirmation of the signing.
Anyway, Neil began his career with Airdrie and made his debut for them as an 18-year-old in 1999. He played 16 games and scored 5 goals, before earning himself a £25,000 move south to English side Barnsley in July 2000. He was a regular first-team starter for the side in his four seasons there (141 apps, 1 goal), but when a new manager and chairman arrived at Oakwell, his contract wasn't renewed, so he joined up with ex-Barnsley star and one-time team-mate Keith Curle at Mansfield after impressing in a trial. This season he made 43 appearances and scored 2 goals.
If the story is true, this would be a good signing for Accies, as Neil has been able to hold his own and play at a decent level in England, not to mention, a level that could be argued as being vastly superior to the Scottish First Division. Being able to play on the right of and also in the centre of midfield suggests that he is a direct replacement for David Hamilton who left for Stranraer earlier this week. We'll just have to wait and see...
| Alex Neil (Mansfield) Information | |||
| Date of birth | 4 May 1978 | Height | 5.8 |
| Place of birth | Doncaster | Weight | 12.7 |
| Nationality | Position | Midfield | |
| Comments | Squad No. | 7 | |
| Recent Career History By Club (1999 onwards) | ||||||
| Team | Debut | Apps (+ sub) | Goals | Yellows | Reds | |
| Mansfield | 07/08/2004 | 42 (1) | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| Barnsley | 26/08/2000 | 90 (41) | 4 | 15 | 1 | |
| Airdrie | 03/01/2000 | 15 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Recent Career History By Season (1999 onwards) | ||||||
| Season | First App. | Apps (+ sub) | Goals | Yellows | Reds | |
| 2004/2005 | 07/08/2004 | 42 (1) | 2 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2003/2004 | 16/08/2003 | 18 (16) | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2002/2003 | 12/10/2002 | 32 (3) | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2001/2002 | 18/08/2001 | 20 (9) | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2000/2001 | 26/08/2000 | 20 (13) | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| 1999/2000 | 03/01/2000 | 15 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Appearances 147 (+ 44 as sub); Goals 6; Yellow cards 20; Red cards 1 | ||||||