New faces needed at Inverness Caley Thistle says Carl Tremarco
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Carl Tremarco believes his former club need to make signings if they are to finally win promotion back to the Premiership.
The 34-year-old captained Inverness Caledonian Thistle over the last two seasons as they fell to Dundee United in the play-off semi finals last year, before sitting in second place before last season was ended early and the play-offs were cancelled.
When current manager John Robertson returned to the Highlands three years ago, he was tasked with a massive rebuilding job as the playing squad needed a total overhaul.
There are echoes of that again this summer, with first team regulars Tremarco, Jordan White, Shaun Rooney, Charlie Trafford and Tom Walsh all departing, although Shane Sutherland has signed.
For Tremarco, the lack of experience left in the squad is a major concern, and he thinks ICT will need to invest if they are to compete at the top of the table.
“They need to recruit, they need more players, that’s a fact,” he insisted.
“If they don’t sign anyone, I don’t see how they’re going to get promoted. The squad isn’t big enough.
“They’ve got a core there, and some young hungry guys who need to step up.
“But it’s a gamble if they’re going to take the young boys into a 27-game Championship season.
“You’re looking for senior players in that dressing room now – you’ve got Aaron Doran, Sean Welsh and Mark Ridgers, but you need more.
“Obviously the manager has his plans and ideas in place for who he wants to sign, but I don’t know when they will come into play.
“You can’t furlough new signings, so I’m guessing they’re going to leave it as late as possible to save money.”
Caley Thistle’s transfer plans will be complicated by the fact that almost every club has had to release players because of the pandemic, and so will be after new recruits.
Then there comes the challenge of reeling in Hearts, who will start the campaign as heavy favourites to go straight back up with the likes of new signing Craig Gordon in their ranks.
“It’s going to be a big scramble with everyone in the Championship,” Tremarco predicted.
“We all know with Inverness, it’s a lot harder to recruit than it is in Glasgow and the central belt where everyone is on each other’s toes.
“Inverness doesn’t offer the best of money in the first place, and that’s going to take another hit now with what’s going on. It will be interesting to see who they sign, and hopefully they will get the right people in and they can make a good push for promotion.
“Let’s get it right though, Hearts are going to be outstandingly high favourites to win that league.”
