HAMILTON YESTERDAY reacted angrily—not to Dave MacKinnon’s outburst over their seeking to sign Derek Lyle, but Dundee’s claim that they had lodged a complaint with the Scottish Football League over the Dark Blues naming Danny Griffin as a substitute goalkeeper but introducing him as an outfield player when the clubs met in October, writes Graeme Dey.

“There is absolutely not an element of truth in this,” said Accies secretary Scott Struthers yesterday.

“We pointed out to Dundee at the time that their actions were not within the rules but we did not pursue a complaint with the SFL.”

Struthers defended the actions of his club in trying to land Lyle.

“Under the rules you are entitled to approach a player who is going out of contract providing you inform his club, in writing, of your intention to do so.

“On Sunday our manager Billy Reid advised me that he wanted to speak to Derek Lyle and asked how we were required to go about this matter.

“I therefore sent a fax to Dundee informing them of our intention to make an approach to the player.

“But, aware that there wouldn’t be anyone at Dens Park on Sunday, I also text- messaged a club official to advise there was a fax sitting at the ground and what its content was.

“What we have done is exactly what I presume Dundee have done with regard to players they have approached this January and last January.”

Dundee recently signed Clyde’s Craig McKeown on a pre-contract agreement, as they did, 12 months ago, with the Bully Wee’s Paul McHale, who in the end they snapped up ahead of schedule.