Defender can’t imagine Inverness Caledonian Thistle being relegated to League One
CAMERON Harper says he can’t imagine what it would be like for Inverness Caledonian Thistle to be relegated to League One.
The defender says he and the team are determined to do all they can to overturn their 2-1 first leg deficit in the Championship play-off final against Hamilton Academical.
Harper joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle when he was nine years old and has been at the club for 13 years.
The former Culloden Academy pupil has now become a regular first team player and says he is determined to do all he can to keep Inverness in the Championship next season as they face Hamilton in the second leg tonight.
He said: “When I grew up, Caley Thistle was in the Premiership and I had aspirations to play there too.
“It is mad to think that we are in this position, with the second best defence in the league. We just have to focus on keeping in the division.
“I was nine when I was at the club. I was previously at Clachnacuddin for a couple of years, then I went to Highland Hotshots, then I came here.
“It is a bit mad, I am only 22, I have played over 150 games for the club and won 70 games..
“We were always in the play-offs going up the way. This year is a different side and it has been a mad professional career so far. But we have to keep them in the division.”
“I want to get this season over and done with and take things from there.
“It would mean a lot, I can't imagine a club of Caley Thistle's size being down with League One. All the stuff that goes with relegation, I don't want it. It would mean a lot to keep them in the division.”
“I am from here, I came through the youth and it means more to me than some boys.
“I have that personal touch to it and I am determined to keep the club in the division.
“When I was growing up, the team were in the Premiership and since I have played it has always been the Championship. I can't really imagine it so I am determined.
“I understand when a team gets relegated, whether it is in our situation, in the Premiership or down in England. It has implications. We have the chance to keep the club in the division and that is all I am thinking about.”
Harper says Hamilton Academical showed their quality in their 2-1 win over Inverness on Wednesday night.
But they improved in the second half with Aribim Pepple scoring midway through the second half to reduce the deficit to one going into the second leg.
Harper said despite a poor first half performance, is confident they will have enough to win the second leg and progress into the next round.
“A lot of Hamilton’s players have been in the Championship before,” he said.
“They have a Championship team and are dangerous going forward. They gave us a good test in that 15 minute spell going forward. We thought we probably started off better and that 15 minute spell happened and how it had gone like that. In the second half we were dominant so we are confident.”
