Lewis Smith says Hamilton Accies have shown great character to come through a summer of turmoil, and feel capable of achieving success this season.
There was a period of uncertainty surrounding the future of then-head coach Stuart Taylor, who left and was replaced by assistant John Rankin.
And former chairman Ronnie MacDonald coming back in as chief executive last week, while warning the club’s future was in jeopardy, would have raised concerns.
But Smith says the players just got on with pre-season as normal, and feel ready to kick on, as they head into a Championship clash with Partick Thistle at Firhill on Saturday.
The midfielder said: “From our point of view we have to just focus on the pitch and leave all of that to other people, because it doesn’t do well to have other things on your mind when you’re going into any game.
“I don’t think it helps anyone if you’re constantly thinking about stuff going on in the background.
“We just kept out of it and kept working hard. Like any pre-season we focused on ourselves and building for the season ahead.
“But Ronnie spoke to us at the weekend, outlined his plans for the club, what his involvement is going to be like, and he spoke really well.
“That was really good to hear from him, and it was all positive.
“Last season I wanted to perform better and, as a team, we wanted to be higher up, so hopefully this year we can push more towards the play-offs.
“I feel we’re more able to do that. I think we’ve got a great belief in the squad that we can achieve something, and hopefully we can.”
Smith expects a tough test at Firhill on Saturday and reckons a volatile atmosphere might be a good grounding for the new players who have come in this summer.
He also wants to build on Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Morton, and said: “It’s important to get the win. In any season you want to get your first three points as quickly as possible, and we were disappointed that we couldn’t achieve that last weekend.
“We know they’re a good team and they won their opening game, but hopefully we can stop their momentum by beating them on Saturday.
“It’s going to be quite an introduction, it’s always a hard place to go, but it will be good for the new players to experience that.
“They need to show that they can do it.”
Smith says everyone pulled through to earn a point against Morton after Shaun Want was sent off, the visitors scored a controversial penalty leveller, and boss John Rankin was sent to the stand.
He said: “I think in games like that you have to really pull together.
“We showed the heart and desire to fight for one another, and everyone was in it together.”
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