Inverness Caley Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson hopeful of making a new signing before Everton and Newcastle legend leads team into League One opener against Dumbarton
Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson says he is optimistic that the club will be able to complete a signing before the League One kick off against Dumbarton this weekend.
While there is imminent fresh investment to the club at a boardroom level, Ferguson had also previously said that if they could move players on those funds would be reinvested into the first team squad.
With Nikola Ujdur’s departure to Queen’s Park confirmed last week, it has given the Caley Jags some wiggle room to approach players and attempt to get deals done.
The former Newcastle United and Everton star has revealed that talks are ongoing with former Ross County midfielder Adam Mackinnon, who featured for Inverness as a triallist in pre-season against Raith Rovers.
"We're working on a couple of deals at the moment,” Ferguson said.
"Hopefully they can be done as soon as possible. I'm waiting to hear, but it might be before the weekend. We'll see how the club progresses.
"Adam has been in training and we like him. We're trying to get that deal done.
"He's done well for me and he's a local guy, which is part of our remit for recruitment. We're in the process of making him the offer and hopefully we can get it done before the weekend.”
Ferguson also did not rule out a move to bring former Caley Jags defender Wallace Duffy, who has remained in the Highland capital, back to the club, while ICT are exploring the feasibility of having a trialist goalkeeper on their substitutes’ bench this weekend.
“Wallace is certainly an option,” Ferguson reasoned.
“Again he’s in the area, he lives locally, so that suits us.
“He’s a good player and we would know what we’re getting, but there are no funds at the moment to bring in another player – the priority at the moment is Adam.
“We’re also looking at trialists, certainly for a goalkeeper.
“We had to bring a goalkeeper in, because our other option was a 15-year-old schoolboy who isn’t ready to be thrown in – it would be unfair to him.
“We like the kid, he’s got a bright future, but he’s got to develop so we’re going to try and get a trialist goalkeeper on the bench if we can.
“We’ve got another one in at the moment on trial, and we’re going to find out if he will be prepared to go on the bench as a trialist to give us cover.”
Inverness should have a clean bill of health for their League One kick off, and everyone involved at the club will be desperate to get off to a winning start.
“We need to win games of football at the end of the day,” Ferguson added.
“That all piles up at my door, and I’ve got to go out there and stand on the touchline and rally the troops.
“There’s always pressure to deliver results. Every manager up and down the country feels that, it doesn’t matter whether it’s pre-season or any other game you’re involved in.
“You’re always under scrutiny to win games of football, and I’m no different from any other manager, so hopefully we can win on Saturday.”
