Thursday 15 January 2015 10:02, UK
Hamilton Accies defender Martin Canning has found the step up into the interim manager’s role somewhat hectic.
The 33-year-old took over at New Douglas Park after Alex Neil's departure to Norwich City was confirmed last Friday.
Canning took charge of team affairs ahead of Monday's 3-2 home defeat to Dundee Unit and is already preparing his side for the weekend visit of Celtic, live on Sky Sports.
"There probably couldn't have been a more hectic period for it all to change but you just have to get on with it," he said.
"I had a fair idea of what Alex was doing day-to-day so I knew what was round the corner but there is definitely a lot more work involved than I gave him credit for, in terms of the amount of preparation put in.
"Alex was second to none in terms of preparing the boys for games and making sure everyone knew their jobs.
"It does take a lot of effort. When you are playing you are focused on preparing yourself. Now you are focused on preparing 18 players. But it is all enjoyable."
Canning insists he has been too busy to consider the taking job on a permanent basis, but he concedes whoever follows Neil will have a tough task to replicate his success.
Following promotion from the Championship with a playoff victory over Hibernian in May, Neil left the Lanarkshire club sitting third in the Scottish Premiership when he moved to Carrow Road.
"I think you would be naive to think it won't be hard to follow Alex but whoever does, they have a great bunch of boys who are prepared to work hard for each other," Canning said.
"They have a great mental strength. A few times this season they have been told the bubble is burst and they continue to fight back and show their great spirit.
"Given the week we had, when we went 2-0 down against Dundee United we could have collapsed. The fact they bounced back to 2-2, and could have potentially taken something from the game, shows me that mentally they are all focused and tuned in."
Watch Hamilton take on Celtic live from New Douglas Park at 12.30pm this Saturday on Sky Sports 3
