Caley Thistle boss Foran tipped to look south for more signings
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JOHN Robertson sees the English market as the best one for new Caley Thistle boss Richie Foran to target this summer.
The former Inverness CT manager has praised the ICT board for making the Irishman the replacement for John Hughes on a four-year contract and also backed Foran for hanging his boots up to channel all his energy on management.
With Hughes leaving the Ladbrokes Premiership club last month as a result of disagreements over budgets, Robertson reckons Foran will know exactly the low funds in which he has to work with and can find "gems" like he and other ICT bosses have over the years.
And Foran’s first signing came from England when they last week snapped up freed Newport County striker Scott Boden (26) on a three-year deal.
The forward netted 15 goals in 51 games for the League Two side last season and Robbo thinks he won’t be the last to arrive from England.
He explained: "In the Pele (Steve Paterson) days, the club was predominately Highland lads in the team then he looked about and from the Aberdeen area came the likes of Ross Tokely and Roy McBain and soon players such as Bobby Mann, Barry Robson and Stuart McCaffrey were joining, really good footballers.
"Gradually, Inverness managers were looking to add more quality, such as David Bingham, Barry Wilson, Graham Bayne, Darren Dodds and Juanjo. Terry Butcher and Craig Brewster also found gems, players who have the quality but have just lost their way. Look at Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes, who came to Inverness and never looked back.
"This formula has worked for so long at Inverness and it can continue to work under Richie. There’s no pot of cash there and any new manager at the club knows that. To spend anything like £25,000-40,000 is impossible and that’s why, alongside Brian Rice and Scott Kellacher, Richie can really earn his corn by improving players.
"There are talented players out there as has been seen from the English market with players such as Gary Warren, Greg Tansey, Ross Draper, David Raven, Carl Tremarco and Josh Meekings. They have rebuilt their careers and could return to England, but certainly a few have caught the eye of clubs in Scotland. Inverness is not the richest club in the world, but that’s when you get the chance to show you can be a good coach."
*** See this week's Highland News for the full story.
