Frustrated Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin insists he’s in the dark as to why he had to pull two young players from his team, 30 minutes before their 3-2 defeat at home to Edinburgh City in the KDM Evolution Trophy. ‌

Rankin says an email was received from the Scottish FA at 6.45pm – and shown to him at 7.15pm – saying Mikey Stone and Jamie Herd couldn’t play against the capital side in the Challenge Cup competition. ‌

And while he's not using that as an excuse for the defeat, Rankin says it didn't help. ‌

City twice came back from goals by Stuart McKinstry and Kevin O’Hara to win the tie, with young Dominic Shiels sent off three minutes from the end to compound Accies’ misery.

The Scottish FA stripping Accies of their Club Academy Scotland (CAS) status last week meant all playe

See Full Page