Former Ayr United goalkeeper 'has point to prove' at Hamilton Accies after being dropped by Scott Brown

New Hamilton Accies signing Charlie Albinson says the club’s ambition to return to the Premiership sold him on a move from Ayr United – and he admits he has a point to prove after being dropped by Honest Men gaffer Scott Brown last season.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper became John Rankin’s first summer signing this week after penning a two-year deal. Albinson spent three years at Somerset Park and was first choice until February when he was bombed out of the squad by Brown, just three games into the former Celtic star’s tenure after replacing Lee Bullen at the helm.

Despite pushing to regain his place, Albinson never got another look in and is relishing the chance of a fresh start under Rankin, as Accies aim to back up their promotion from the Championship earlier this month with a return to the top flight.

On his move, which Lanarkshire Live Sport revealed last month, Albinson said: “The club being promoted is a big plus for me but the vision that the club have for the future, pushing for the Premiership was a big draw as well. Speaking to the manager, he was really good and everything was really positive.

It was frustrating the way it ended for me at Ayr so I want to prove myself to other people and push on now. When Scott came in he had a difference of opinion. That’s fine, that is football. Some managers are going to like you and some aren’t. He wanted to bring in another goalkeeper [Celtic loanee Josh Clarke] and go that way.

“I still tried towards the end of the season to get back into the team but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m fully focused on Hamilton now and playing here.”

He added: “The manager [John Rankin] spoke highly of me and said he’d seen me play a few times before so he was really keen to get me. The message was that the chance is there for me to be the number one here next season, but it is now up to me to get the shirt and push the others that are there.

“I’m up for that challenge. You can never guarantee someone is going to play so it is up to me to prove myself and keep the shirt.”

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