Accies confirm Hendrie departure

  • by Staff Writer
  • Friday, 30th January 2015

Hamilton Academical have confirmed the sale of young full-back Stephen Hendrie to West Ham United.

The 20-year-old Scot has made the switch to West Ham after the two clubs finally agreed a fee in the region of £1million, following days of uncertainly after the original deal was cancelled by Hamilton.

A short statement on Academical's website read: "The Club is delighted to announce that following a further approach from West Ham United for Stephen Hendrie, we have been able to reach agreement on a fee, and Stephen has signed with the London Club.

"Furthermore we have agreed with West Ham that Stephen will remain with us as a player till the end of the season.

"Stephen has been with the Club since the age of 13 and we are delighted that another of our players who has come through our Academy, has moved to the English Premier League and we wish him well."

News of Hendrie's departure has met with a mixed response from Accies fans. redandwhite1874, posting on Accies World wrote: "It's a short career and this will probably sort him for life. I would love to see him do well, but personally I think he has gone to a level to high."

Stodmeister added: "Week after week people have a go at Hendrie and say he is no good, so now they get what they want and the club gets money for him. What's the problem? I wish him all the best , we just move on."

Accies999 was however rather more supportive, stating: "It's fantastic watching another product of the Accies youth policy progress to bigger and better things.

"I hope his career continues to flourish and I most definitely will keep an eye on his progress like most of us have with the previous Accies youngsters that have progressed."

Hendrie, who is somewhat awkwardly the February poster in Hamilton's annual calendar, made his competitive debut for the Accies in August 2011 at the age of just 16, before receiving his first international nod - for Scotland's Under 17s - in October of the same year.

Three years later he made his debut for the Under 21s, but is yet to appear for the seniors.

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