Inverness Caley Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson confirms talks have begun over a contract extension for Canadian international David Wotherspoon
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Duncan Ferguson has confirmed that Inverness Caledonian Thistle hope to keep David Wotherspoon at the club past the expiration of his contract in January – and he has already decided which players out of contract at the end of the season he wants to keep too.
Wotherspoon has made a big impact since penning a short-term deal in the Highland capital.
Three goals in his first five matches for the Caley Jags have resulted in wins every time the Canadian international has found the net for the club so far – with league victories against Airdrieonians and Ayr United followed up by a Scottish Cup win over Cowdenbeath.
Already a fan favourite because of his contributions, many Inverness fans may be concerned about the prospect of losing Wotherspoon by the time January rolls around.
However, Ferguson says he has already had conversations about keeping the 33-year-old at the club – as well as deciding which of next summer’s free agents he would like to keep around – and he hopes they will manage to agree on a number of extensions.
“I’ve mentioned it to the club,” Ferguson confirmed.
“We love David, we brought him to the club and we want him to stay. Hopefully the club can get that sorted out for us.
“There are other players out of contract at the end of the season. The club knows my position on those players, and who we want to keep with their contracts running out.
“We want to get those sorted too, and I’m sure the club will do their very best to keep these players.
“David is a good lad, a quality player who keeps himself fit, and does everything right. He’s really good in training, so he has been a really good signing for us.
“We want to keep him here, and we’re in the process of trying to do that. He has been a very good signing, and he is scoring a few goals as well which is making a big difference to us.”
While Wotherspoon has quickly become a fan favourite, Ferguson himself has already received plenty of support from the stands.
Of course, results help get supporters on side, and under Ferguson Inverness are yet to taste defeat through seven matches.
Three draws – against some of the top sides in the Championship – and four wins across league and cup action have built up plenty of momentum early into Ferguson’s tenure.
While realistic that a defeat will come eventually, the former Everton and Newcastle United forward is optimistic that the bond between fans and the club will only continue to grow over the foreseeable future.
“I’m pleased, the fans have been good with me,” Ferguson added.
“Obviously we’re getting results, so they will be good, but they are loyal to their club.
“They will need to support us in the tough times as well, because that will happen in football, but for the moment they’re behind us and I’m sure that will continue.
“If we lose a couple of games, I’m sure they will stick with us because they are loyal fans who have been great with me so far.”
With Raith Rovers next up for ICT at the Caledonian Stadium, Ferguson will have to contend without David Carson, who has just become a father.
Defenders Cameron Harper and Morgan Boyes are injury doubts with Achilles and hip flexor issues respectively, but there has been positive news on the fitness front as Roddy MacGregor has returned to training over the last week or two.
