HAMILTON ACCIES skipper Alex Neil has opened his arms to Rangers joining the New Douglas Park side in the Irn-Bru First Division.

It remains to be seen just how the vote will go on Friday when the SFL clubs convene, but while there is widespread resistance to the Ibrox side being parachuted down just one tier, Neil is not one of them.

"I would love the chance to play against them," he said. "I can't speak for anyone else, but from a player's point of view, I'd be delighted if they ended up in our league.

"Going to places like Ibrox would be fantastic, but I really don't know what will happen.

"The only thing I would say is that the sooner we know what is going to happen, the better."

While Neil wouldn't mind testing himself against Rangers, he has, however, admitted that it will be a tough ask for Hamilton to compete for promotion this term.

Billy Reid's side has been decimated by departures and those who have been brought in are lacking vital experience.

Neil and goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert are the two senior players, with a decade between Neil and the next oldest in the squad.

It is something that he imagines the manager will look to rectify in the transfer market in the coming weeks, although it is likely that there won't be any significant signing heading to Lanarkshire to bolster the squad.

"As it currently stands, I think it wouldn't make much sense for us to shout about winning promotion," said the veteran.

"We are a young side and it would put a lot of pressure on these boys if we were to come out and say that we expected to be going up this season.

"Who knows, maybe once the season gets underway we will find our groove right away, but my own feeling is that it might take a little bit of time just to find ourselves as a team and see how we knit together.

"Certainly, we need a few more bodies coming in and I would think that the manager might fancy a few guys who have been over the course before.

"But it all comes down to finances and it just depends on what is available and what the gaffer is able to go and bring in.

"From my own point of view, I just can't wait to get going again."