Hamilton v Inverness: Accies boss prepares for first test against Big Dunc since doing coaching badges together

dailyrecord.co.uk:

John Rankin admits he looked up to Duncan Ferguson in more ways than one when they did their UEFA A-licence together.But the diminutive Hamilton Accies boss will be determined to send Big Dunc down when he tackles his Inverness Caley Thistle team in the Championship play-off final.Both men graced Scottish football as players and have embarked on the next chapter of their careers in management, which has now led them to a first meeting since doing their coaching badges together more than a decade ago.Over the course of tonight’s first leg at New Douglas Park and Saturday’s decider at the Caledonian Stadium, 40-year-old Rankin and 52-year-old Ferguson will pit their wits against each other.And Rankin, who spent 18 months at ICT as a player, knows his League One outfit must rise to the occasion to topple Big Dunc’s Championship charges.He said: “I know it will be a tough game for us but I am looking forward to the challenge against his team.

It is something we need to rise to."I did my A-licence with Dunc about 12 years ago so I know the type of character he is, and I know he will have his team highly motivated and well drilled."Obviously I was a lot smaller than he was, so I was definitely looking up to him, that’s for sure!

But there were a lot of high-profile personalities in that licence group so it was good to rub shoulders with them and learn from them because I was a young guy at the time.“Although our paths crossed, I don’t know if he will remember me but it was a good time because it put me out of my comfort zone early on and made me learn quickly.

This will be the first time we’ve faced each other. He has spent a lot of time down south and his profile brings great awareness to Scottish football.“With his