Former club make 'significant financial offer' to in-demand Irish League star
Andy Ryan’s former club Hamilton Academical have reportedly tabled “a significant financial offer” to bring the Larne striker back to Scotland ahead of next season.
Ryan has spent the past three-and-a-half years at Inver Park after arriving from Hamilton in January 2023 and has played a key role in their three Premiership title triumphs.
The 31-year-old has cemented his status as a Larne legend having scored a hat-trick which sealed their spot in the Conference League’s League Phase in 2024 as Larne became the first Irish League team to achieve the feat.
Prolific Ryan has been one of the Premiership’s top performers across his time in Northern Ireland’s top-flight, netting 59 goals in 95 league matches for the Inver Reds.
However, Ryan’s Larne contract is set to expire this summer, putting a host of clubs in both the Irish League and across the water on alert.
Ryan returned from a long-term injury in late-December to help fire Larne to Gibson Cup glory this term, scoring 16 times in 17 league outings, including a hat-trick as Gary Haveron’s side celebrated in style by beating Dungannon Swifts 8-0 on the final day.
Lanarkshire Live Sport reported that Hamilton “have made enquiries” to lure Ryan back to the club “with a significant financial offer for League One level”.
Ryan has previously played with Accies manager Darian MacKinnon, who “contacted Ryan personally to try and entice him back to New Douglas Park”.
Hamilton have faced financial difficulties in recent times with players threatening to go on strike last season over unpaid wages as the club fought to avoid insolvency while they’ve also been hit by point deductions.
Asked about his future on the pitch after helping Larne seal their Champions League return last month, Ryan insisted he wasn’t sure where he’d be playing next term with family time his immediate priority following a gruelling season.
"To be honest, I really don't know,” he said. “I've been asked that so many times in the last couple of weeks, I really don't know.
"I worked tirelessly every single day to get myself back from the injury, it was exhausting to get myself back.
"My whole focus was getting my hands on that Gibson Cup again. It's been a long, long year for myself personally.
"I'm going to enjoy a few weeks with the family and see where it goes from there.
“When you miss so long, you've always got questions.
"Will you come back? Will you come back the same player? I really, really worked hard to get myself back. Once I got myself back, I wanted to really focus on getting this Gibson Cup again.”
Larne’s majority shareholder Nick Giannotti remained hopeful that the Co Antrim club could retain Ryan’s services for next season.
"Andy is an important person to this club and an important person to me,” he said prior to title celebrations on BBC in April. “He has shown that over the last year and I'm super excited to see him back in Larne next year.”