Paixao twins released by Hamilton Accies
Last updated on .From the section Football
Twin forwards Flavio and Marco Paixao have left Hamilton Academical.
The decision was announced by Accies despite it still being technically possible for Billy Reid's side to avoid relegation from Scotland's top flight.
But chairman Ronnie MacDonald is already preparing for Division One and had promised to shed "under-achievers".
"Strikers Marco and Flavio Paixao have reached agreement to leave and have been released from their contracts with immediate effect," said a statement.
"The club had already informed Marco Paixao his contract would not be renewed next term."
The 26-year-old Portuguese twins, both once of Porto B, had been signed by Reid in summer 2009.
Marco, the older by five minutes, had previously been with Cultural Deportiva Leonesa, while Flavio was with Benidorm, both clubs in the Spanish B Division.
The twins achieved notoriety in Scotland for their co-ordinated goal celebration dance routines, but they have had few opportunities to show them off this season.
Flavio has been a regular starter this term but has scored only four times, while Marco has not played since February and has contributed one goal.
Marco's expected summer departure was announced before Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Rangers, a result that leaves Accies 12 points adrift of St Mirren at the foot of the Scottish Premier League.
Hamilton already confirmed that they had cancelled the contract of Argentine forward Damian Casalinuovo.
Now Reid has told his out-of-contract-players they must grab the opportunity to secure their futures whether they remain at New Douglas Park next season or not.
"It's always the case for any player who has a contract until the end of the season, whether they are playing for contracts at Hamilton or anywhere else," he said.
"If you're doing that on the TV, you're putting yourself in the shop window and you can make a name for yourself.
"I've told that to the players and, against Rangers, there were three or four who did themselves good."
With so much uncertainty surrounding the club's position, Reid admits making decisions on contracts right now is difficult for Accies.
"It's the same for every club," said the manager. "You have to see what league you are going to be in and the odds are stacked against us at the moment, let's be honest about it.
"But, in football, you can never say never, you never know what's going to happen."
