Canning Comes To Terms With Top Job

Photo by Jeff Holmes Martin Canning has been player/interim manager at Hamilton only since Friday but admits he now has added respect for Alex Neil. The 33-year-old defender took over at New Douglas Park after Neil's departure to Norwich City was confirmed and has had to adapt quickly to his new role. After the 3-2 Scottish Premiership defeat at home to Dundee United on Monday night, his thoughts immediately turned to the visit of Celtic on Saturday, with a trip to Partick Thistle next Wednesday night in the back of his mind. "There probably couldn't have been a more hectic period for it all to change but you just have to get on with it," said Canning. "I had a fair idea of what Alex was doing day-to-day so I knew what was round the corner but there is definitely a lot more work involved than I gave him credit for, in terms of the amount of preparation put in. "Alex was second to none in terms of preparing the boys for games and making sure everyone knew their jobs. "It does take a lot of effort. When you are playing you are focused on preparing yourself. "Now you are focused on preparing 18 players. But it is all enjoyable." Canning insists he has been too busy to consider the job on a permanent basis. He concedes, though, that following Neil, who brought Accies up from the Championship before leaving them in third place in the top flight behind Celtic and Aberdeen - they are now fifth - will be difficult for whoever is the next manager. However, the former Hibernian stopper believes the Hamilton players showed their qualities even in defeat to United. "I think you would be naive to think it won't be hard to follow Alex but whoever does, they have a great bunch of boys who are prepared to work hard for each other," he said. "They have a great mental strength. A few times this season they have been told the bubble is burst and they continue to fight back and show their great spirit. "Given the week we had, when we went 2-0 down against Dundee United we could have collapsed. "The fact that the boys bounced back to 2-2, and could have potentially taken something from the game, shows me that mentally they are all focused and tuned in." The only change Canning made for the game against United was to drop himself for Jesus Garcia Tena but he insists he will have no qualms telling team-mates they are out of the starting XI. "It is part and parcel of football," he said. "There will be a reason for it. If you are going to drop someone it is not because you have a personal problem, it's because you see the guy you are putting in his place better suited to do the job on that day. "If that is the case, and that's the way I see it, I don't think it will be difficult to drop someone. "It will be done because I think it is the right thing to do."