Hamilton midfielder James McArthur to exit Scotland

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Seventh place the goal for Reid

Hamilton Accies midfielder James McArthur is poised to disappoint Scottish Premier League suitors by moving to English football.

The 22-year-old has been linked with Rangers, but McArthur has already been on a visit to Wigan Athletic as guest of manager Roberto Martinez.

Accies boss Billy Reid said: "I've got a wee inkling of where he'll go, but I don't want to comment on it now.

"I think he will certainly go down south. He has earned the move."

Wigan last summer signed James McCarthy from Accies for £1.2m and McArthur's former midfield team-mate has become a regular with the English top-flight outfit since January despite being just 19.

His level of consistency this season has been fantastic and it is all credit to James Hamilton Accies manager Billy Reid

Reid believes that McArthur, who has also been linked with West Brom, Sheffield United and Sunderland, can be a similar success in England.

"He has served his apprenticeship with me," the Accies manager said of the player who came through Accies' academy.

"And his level of consistency this season has been fantastic and it is all credit to James."

Reid is relaxed about Hamilton's financial position, which means the club have to develop an efficient youth system and sell their top players to make ends meet.

"I think that's the way forward for Scottish football," he said.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to McArthur's exit

"If we continue to do that, it means young players will want to come and play here.

"I say to any young player, 'come here if you have ability, you will get a chance at this football club.'

"We lost some key players this season and I think we will lose key players again in the summer.

"But that is the way with Hamilton Accies and I have no worries about that."