Hamilton have signed up young duo Ali Crawford and Grant Gillespie on new four-year deals.

The highly-rated pair came through the New Douglas Park youth set-up and have now penned deals to May 2018.

Crawford and Gillespie - both 23 - have played a major part in the newly-promoted Accies' stunning start to the season which has seen them romp to the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Around 30 scouts from England were at last Friday's home match with Aberdeen to cast an eye over Alex Neil's promising recruits.

But chairman Les Gray claims Crawford and Gillespie's new contracts will "safeguard" the club if suitors from down south do decide to pounce.