HAMILTON manager Billy Reid has urged supporters not to turn on James McCarthy after the midfielder snubbed a Scotland call-up.

The 17-year-old, capped at youth and under-21 levels by the Republic of Ireland, had been courted by George Burley last week, but the Accies star opted to continue playing for his adopted country.

McCarthy qualifies for Ireland by virtue of a Donegal-born grandfather and Reid is hoping that the kind of treatment Celtic and Ireland's Aiden McGeady - who also qualified for both countries - is regularly on the end of isn't handed out to the teenager at away grounds across Scotland in the coming weeks.

"James has made his decision and I hope everybody respects it," said Reid. "Not everybody will agree with it, but he has made the one he believes is right for him.

"I'm just glad he has made a decision. We can now draw a line under it and get back to concentrating on football.

"The boy will get stick. He got stick even when we were playing in the lower leagues, but James is strong enough to take it even though he is only 17.

"I just hope people can let him get on with playing football rather than drag up the Scotland and Ireland thing."

Reid would have loved to have seen McCarthy in the dark blue of Scotland.

However, the youngster was overlooked by his home nation in his formative years and when he was given an opportunity by Ireland, he took it.

He has now stayed loyal to them after they gave him his chance at international level and the SFA, once again, have only themselves to blame.

"What I would say about James is that as well as being a brilliant young footballer, he is a very loyal kid," said Reid.