ALEX NEIL is pleased with Hamilton's pre-season form as they continue their preparations for the new Premiership campaign.

Accies followed up their win at home to Hearts and Oban Cup success with a 3-1 triumph over Dumbarton on Tuesday night.

The Lanarkshire side face East Fife this afternoon before heading south of the border for fixtures against Whitby Town and Spennymoor Town.

Neil said: "We have started the season really well. We did this last pre-season as well.

"We were good in pre-season, we played really well and there was a lot of confidence.

"Hopefully that can lead us into the success we had last year and if we can use it as a springboard this season we will be delighted.

"It will be a good test for us on Saturday at East Fife. It is a good big pitch as well so we are looking forward to that.

"The guys who didn't feature against Dumbarton will play today to try and get all the players 80 or 90 minutes under their belt and get their match fitness. That will lead us into going down to Durham, which has been a good test for us in the last couple of years, so we are looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Clyde boss Barry Ferguson admits the loss of defender Iain Gray is a huge blow ahead of his first campaign in the Broadwood dugout.

The 23-year-old missed the closing stages of the League Two season last time out with a broken foot and could now be sidelined until Christmas as he gets set to go under the knife once again.

Ferguson said: "It's disappointing. I like Iain and he was one of the squad that I knew about before I came to the club, in terms of what he can do on the pitch."