THE sure-fire way to anger a supporter of Hamilton Academical is to gently remind them that their club is punching well above their weight. Such a statement might get you a punch so be careful.

You see, they have heard this too many times in recent months. It’s almost as if they have no right to complain, just like everyone else, when things go wrong, and it’s not been the easiest season in their part of Lanarkshire.

No follower of the Accies expects European glory. They are well aware all the other eleven clubs in the Ladbrokes Premiership get bigger crowds and make more money. However, that doesn’t mean they are ready to meekly accept losing games.

Just because there are not tens of thousands inside New Douglas Park doesn’t mean the atmosphere can’t turn ugly. It has many times in recent months with the vitriol mostly directed at the manager, Martin Canning, who has shown great patience and restraint as the abuse has piled in towards him.

There was even talk of a boycott, which according to chairman Les Gary not only didn’t happen but only included a few people “you would have thought it was 5000 the way it was written” and that promoted a fans forum meeting before Saturday’s home game against Kilmarnock.

Some air needed clearing and a few home truths said.

“We meet the fans a lot, far more than other clubs, because we are a far more transparent about our focus and where we want to go,” said Gray. “I thought it went well. People went away with a clear view of what we are trying to do, the model we are working to and where we want to be.”

In many way, Hamilton are victims of their own success. They have enjoyed six seasons in the top flight over the last nine, which given where this club was not so long ago is nothing short of remarkable.

But the football hasn’t been great this season, too many games have been drawn from a winning position and there is a feeling among the supporters than Canning isn’t up to the job. The criticism has been overly harsh at times but cannot be ignored.

They are second bottom above Inverness, the relegation play-off position, and seem to have been there all season.

“Given the club’s situation in 2003 when we took over, it has been a great run,” said Gray. “We have loyal supporters, maybe not too many of them, and we want them to know we are working hard to stay in the Premier League.”

Gray added: “Where are what we are. Look, this is a results business. There have been disappointing results and we get that. Supporters get annoyed when we don’t win enough game. We have drawn too many, I think we’ve been ahead in nine matches and lost late goals.

“We have a young manager, a former club captain in Martin, who was dropped into being the manager in the Premier League. He is still learning and we have every confidence in him. He is a fine manager.”

What has to be said about the Premier League’s smallest club – with apologies to the fans for stating this – is that they do give young players a chance. When this subject is raised, Gray becomes his most animated.

“We have prioritised the academy and playing the youth player,” said the chairman. “We don’t take on a lot of loans, that not our way. We develop players and get them in the team. I wish more did.”

This is all very well but what if Hamilton do go down?

“We have never spoken about relegation, not once,” says Gray. “We just don’t consider it. Of course, it might be something to think about as the seasons goes on as it’s a moving target; however, our aim is to stay in the Premier League.”