Hamilton boss Martin Canning appreciates support in wake of Celtic hammering
Martin Canning has revealed he has been flooded with messages of support from sympathetic bosses since Hamilton's Parkhead nightmare.
The Accies player-manager was left to watch through the cracks of his fingers as ruthless Celtic grabbed an 8-1 win on Tuesday night.
That devastating result came just a week-and-a-half after Ladbrokes League Two minnows Annan dumped his men out of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
But Canning - who has been given a vote of confidence by the New Douglas Park board - has been heartened to see fellow managers rallying round in his hour of need.
Best friend and Norwich boss Alex Neil has led the queue of those offering advice and Canning is grateful for all the support he can get.
Canning, speaking ahead of Sunday's Premiership clash with Hearts, said: "There has been quite a few managers in touch by text and email to offer a few nice words. Obviously I speak to Alex regularly and he has been trying to give advice as well.
"That's all appreciated. I will listen to anything anybody has to offer.
"At some point in their careers most managers will have had a result or spell like this and had to deal with it on a personal level.
"They are the only guys who know what I'm feeling like right now. If you've never been a manager then you'll never know how it will feel in this situation until it happens to you. It really, really hurts.
"But I also know in my own mind that I need to work hard to get us out of this. Both I and the players need to respond and respond quick on Sunday."
Meanwhile, Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson wishes more clubs would show the kind of support Hamilton have offered Canning to their own under-fire managers.
The Jambos boss - whose side travel along the M8 on Sunday - said: "It's difficult when you go through these tough patches but the pleasing thing to see is that Martin has got a board that has stood by him.
"The way football is these days, people come and go very quickly, so it's just pleasing to see that the board has got belief in him and will stick by him and give him time to develop things, because it takes two years to really put your stamp on a team.
"Martin needs that time and I'm sure he'll get it right.
"It would be great if more clubs did what the Accies directors are doing and are standing by their manager. In the last five or six years it has changed a lot and things are a lot more reactionary off the back of a few results.
"You need time to build a team and get across to the team how you want to play, so it was great to see the Hamilton board are willing to support Martin."
While Neilson's words will be more welcome backing for Canning, his Hearts team are the last thing the beleaguered Accies side will want to see coming up against them following their own six-goal hammering of Motherwell last week.
Neilson, though, believes his side will not have it so easy as Hamilton look to salvage some pride.
"Last week was a good performance by us," he said.
"We've had a lot like that this season but just not scored the goals. The pleasing thing from last week was that we took the chances.
"You're never going to reach those kind of levels every week but it's important you strive to get there.
"It's a different type of game on Sunday. Hamilton are coming off the back of a difficult result at Parkhead and they will be desperate to put that right.
"They could go either way. They either come out fighting and scrap for everything, or they might still be at a low ebb after the defeat in midweek. However, I think there will be a reaction to the game.
"We have to do what we do every week and that's treat the match professionally, work hard and do the right things."
Neilson is sweating on Sam Nicholson's fitness for the trip.
Midfielder Jamie Walker definitely misses out but could make his comeback from knee surgery against Inverness next week.
Source: PAR
