MARTIN CANNING admits he is in a race against time to learn Frankie McAvoy's tricks of the trade before he heads for the Hamilton exit door.

The defender has stepped into the top job at New Douglas Park following Alex Neil's departure to Norwich last week, and is being assisted by the former manager's right-hand man.

McAvoy will follow Neil south of the border in a couple of weeks as he gets set for a switch to Carrow Road and a shot at Sky Bet Championship promotion.

In the meantime, he is helping Canning learn the ropes, although the pair couldn't mastermind a victory on Monday night as Accies were edged out 3-2 by Dundee United.

Canning remains one of the main contenders to land the job on a permanent basis, and the 33-year-old reckons it is good to talk.

He said: "Frankie has been great in terms of his preparations and his coaching. His delivery of sessions hasn't changed and he did it for Alex as well. So he is on board with the situation I am in and that is great for me in terms of getting his feedback and advice.

"My job in the next three weeks is to learn as much from him as I can and see his side of things. If it this is something which goes somewhere, I'd like to know as much as he does.

"In the short-term and from what I know now, I'll work day-to-day and try to sponge as much off Frankie as I can. I've spoken to Alex plenty over the last couple of days.

"We've been best friends for years and that won't change. You pick the phone up and call a mate, regardless. Who better to get advice from than someone who has been through it?"

The Hamilton hierarchy will meet in the coming days to discuss the future and who should replace boss Neil following his high-profile exit last week.

The former boss tipped Canning to take over his job before he joined the Canaries, while a number of Accies players have spoken enthusiastically about their captain.

Canning said: "It is nothing I can control. It is just day-to-day for me until such time as they tell me otherwise. All I can do is plod along and do what I am doing."

The defender left himself out of the starting line-up for the United clash this week, but did make a late appearance off the bench as his side went in search of a second equaliser.

Neil was able to combine his two duties and still pull on a shirt as well as leading his side from the dugout, and Canning is keen to find the right work and play balance to allow him to follow in Neil's footsteps.

He said: "I'd like to continue playing and feel I would have something to offer. In terms of getting the balance right, that's an individual thing.

"I was close to Alex and spoke to him a lot about his situation and how he found it. If I want to continue playing, I'll need to figure out a way.

"There is a slight change and these are things I'll need to get my head around. As Alex said, it's about switching off from one job and concentrating on another.

"If you are going to play, be 100 per cent and delegate a coach. If you are not going to play, make that 100 per cent and try to not think about the playing side.

"That is something which has made it a hard week and is something I'll need to get my head around. There has been a lot to take in, but I'm sure I'll get there."