Players at Scottish Championship side WALK OUT on eve of season after stars and staff fail to receive wages

STARS at Scottish Championship side Hamilton Accies have staged a walkout over a major pay dispute just hours from the kick-off of the new season.

Players and coaches at the Lanarkshire side refused to train on Wednesday after some didn’t receive their July wages.

Willie Vass

John Rankin, Hamilton Accies[/caption]

PA:Press Association

A general view of the pitch and stands[/caption]

SunSport understands that players’ union PFA Scotland has been contacted by several anxious stars about the situation.

Players are believed to be meeting with lawyers this afternoon with crisis talks also scheduled with the union.

The players are scheduled to return to training tomorrow – although whether that goes ahead or not remains unclear, with a number of players still believed to be against a return until all obligations are met.

Pension payments are also believed to have been affected.

The Accies are due to host Ayr United in their Championship opener this Saturday.

SunSport understands the Lanarkshire side are hopeful of getting all the outstanding issues cleared up as soon as possible.

The newly promoted outfit have been actively bringing in players this summer – although they did lose the likes of Lewis Smith to Livingston.

But they could be in breach of SPFL rules, with Edinburgh City docked six points earlier this year for failing to pay their players.

There has been a major overhaul in ownership at Hamilton in the last 12 months with Seref Zengin coming on board as owner and chairman.

Hamilton said they had apologised to all players and staff affected and blamed an ongoing issue with their bank and their internet banking platform.

They wrote: “In light of tabloid reports this morning, the Club can formally confirm that there is a live and ongoing issue, which is in the process of being resolved.

“Due to the very specific nature of this issue with our nominated bank the club proactively contacted all players & coaching staff in advance of training this morning, in an attempt to identify who had and who had not received their scheduled pay from yesterday’s payroll run.

Any players, coaches or staff who confirmed that they have been affected, have also been advised and reassured of payment facilities being made available to them imminently by the club whilst we seek to resolve the matter with our Bank and their Internet Banking platform respectively.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Club have expressed our sincerest of apologies to all staff members affected as well as given them the reassurance that the new measures being implemented will prevent a reoccurrence of such an issue arising again in the future.”

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