The League One outfit had a 20 per cent sell-on fee for their jewel in the crown asset
Ryan One moved from Accies to Sheffield United in 2023
Crisis club Hamilton Accies sold the rights to Ryan One’s sell-on fee at Sheffield United to pay players wages last month, Lanarkshire Live Sport understands.
And it is understood a deal was made for a fraction of what they could be worth. Lanarkshire Live Sport is unable to get a straight answer on the deal from Hamilton Accies themselves as the publication has been banned following revelations last week about the financial crisis at the club. But here is what we do know. Accies sold One in September 2023 for a six-figure sum and Accies secured a 20 per cent sell-on fee plus other incentives based on One’s career progression as part of the deal for the striker, who is the son of former Stranraer and Livingston striker Armand.
In early December last year, Accies went to Sheffield United asking if they would consider a full and final buy-out of the Ryan Oné agreement for the sum of £500,000, in a move which would negate any claim that Accies have over the player in terms of sell-on clauses and future appearances or bonuses.
Just before Christmas, EFL Championship club Sheffield United admitted they were willing to discuss – but not at the figure proposed by Accies. LLS can reveal that earlier that year in June, Accies made a similar proposal to Sheffield United – but one worth £5m which requested it be paid in installments over three years from September 2025 to September 2027. This would be valuing Oné’s future transfer value at £25m.
Striker Ryan One joined Sheffield United in September 2023(Image: Sheffield United FC)
When Sheffield United came back to the table towards the turn of the year, they are understood to have come to an agreement with the club for a fee well below the £500,000 proposal, as the Lanarkshire club sought to fight off administration/liquidation. This all came at a time when Accies were under the control of the Funding Globe, who had stepped in to provide an emergency support package to save the club from potential liquidation in November, with a loan understood to be in the region of £115,000. As part of that process, the Funding Globe’s Jonny Towers was appointed as a statutory director on December 15, 2025, becoming the sole member of the board at Hamilton Academical FC. This followed the previous ownership being deemed not ‘fit and proper’ to run the club by the Scottish Football Association, forcing Accies to appoint a new board or face further sanctions. It is understood that prior to Christmas, Mr Towers, accompanied by interim Accies chief financial officer Hayley Scott and Andy McIntyre of VSI Executive Education, acting as a consultant to the Funding Group and the club, entered formal discussions with Sheffield United to cash in on the One clause. This also led to Seref Zengin claiming that this was why he later served notice on Mr Towers from the club’s board, when he appointed Rob Edwards and Neil Blankstone on January 3, 2026.
Ryan One of Sheffield United celebrates
Mr Towers told staff and players he would not be providing further funding to meet the December payroll and this led to the threat of strike action from the Hamilton players ahead of a clash with East Fife on December 31. However, that game was postponed due to bad weather. On January 3, 2026 Lanarkshire Live Sport exclusively revealed that wrestling guru and owner of Welsh Premier League side Haverfordwest County, Rob Edwards, was the new owner of Hamilton Accies after his Morley Sports Management (MSM) group obtained Seref Zengin’s 97.5 per cent majority share in the club. This was confirmed by the club the following day, however Mr Towers remained on the board and was unwilling to step away. It is around this point it is understood Accies came to an agreement with Sheffield United and the funds agreed were then used to cover the December payroll, which was paid two weeks into January, as confirmed by Accies first-team manager Darian MacKinnon who stated the new owners had been “true to their word” and “a big weight” had been lifted off their shoulders. While initial negotiations took place before Rob Edwards came in as the club’s new owner, it is unclear whether or not Edwards had a final say on sanctioning the deal. When approached for comment, former Accies owner Zengin advised that Jonny Towers agreed the deal with Sheffield United but would not elaborate further.
Former director of football Gerry Strain, left, and ex-owner Seref Zengin
A statement from former director Gerry Strain read: “Following the club’s relegation by the SPFL despite finishing 7th in the Championship, we undertook routine contingency planning during the summer to identify potential assets that could, if required, be realised to support liquidity. “The SPFL’s decision had a significant and immediate destabilising impact on the club’s financial position. “That planning was not progressed after an incoming prospective owner advised that future contingent revenues, including potential sell-on income, should be preserved for the longer-term benefit of the club. “I agreed with that position and no action was taken at that time. “On November 27, 2025, the club’s majority shareholder, Seref Zengin, advised that he would no longer be funding payroll or the club’s ongoing operating costs. This created an immediate and serious working-capital issue.
Jonny Towers was appointed to the board at Hamilton Academical
“Following the withdrawal of interest from the American investors on November 7, 2025, and in light of the funding position outlined above, our club faced a pressing need to secure short-term funding in order to continue operations. “In that context, I revisited elements of the earlier contingency planning, of which the Ryan One sell-on position was one of several options considered. “I had no involvement in the club’s financial decision-making after 15 December 2025.
“At that point, no agreement had been reached with any party regarding the sale or buy-out of the club’s interest in Ryan Oné’s future sell-on fees.”
Lanarkshire Live Sport has attempted to contact StormSportX – the agency representing Oné – as well as The Funding Globe’s Jonny Towers and former Accies interim chief financial officer Hayley Scott by phone and email, but they have not responded to our enquiries.
A key figure in the Blades’ negotiations directed us to Sheffield United’s media department who, when contacted, said they will “not comment publicly on Hamilton Academical FC’s situation.”
Ryan One burst onto the scene at Accies at the age of 16(Image: SNS Group)
After making his big move from Accies, Oné went on to make his senior debut against Arsenal at the Emirates Arena in October 2023. Although signed primarily for the under-21s at the time, Oné has made 21 first-team appearances for the Blades over the last two seasons. He had previously been linked to big clubs in England such as current Premier League champions Liverpool.
The Scotland under-21 striker is currently being linked with a loan move out of Bramall Lane by the end of the transfer window on February 2, with EFL League One side Lincoln City appearing his likely destination, although there is interest from Rotherham United as well. Earlier this week, Lanarkshire Live Sport revealed Accies had outstanding debts of over £5m just before the club’s new owners came in at the start of this month, while player wages – not including management and staff – had totalled £83,000 per month. Accies still face the threat of administration under its new owners, with the Funding Globe calling in their loan earlier this month.
The club’s official website was taken over by the Funding Globe with an “important notice” that detailed “unresolved matters.” Accies have since set up a new URL. In response to the Funding Globe calling in their loan, Accies said earlier this month: “If administration is forced by The Funding Globe, and their preferred liquidators, we will prepare an immediate injunction to prevent this and fight the process on the basis that we highly question the validity of the charge and we are actively seeking advice.”