Rebuilding is constant at Inverness Caley Thistle, says manager John Robertson
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John Robertson says it has felt like yet another summer of rebuilding at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Since January, seven players who could be called first team regulars have left the Caledonian Stadium, meaning reinforcements have been needed over the last two transfer windows.
Four new signings have come in this summer already, with Robertson still hoping to add one or two more faces to his group, but deals have not been made any easier with budgets slashed more than usual due to the pandemic.
“It’s a rebuilding job for us every year, it seems to me,” Robertson admitted.
“If you look at the vast majority of last season, we’ve lost our entire back four.
“We have targeted players that we felt we needed to strengthen the squad, get a little bit more strength in depth.
“Covid has ravaged all clubs’ budgets.
“I sat down with Scot Gardiner and the chairman and worked out what we had available, then it was up to me to get the best value that I could.”
Danny Devine and Shane Sutherland are recruits who are familiar faces to the Caley Thistle faithful.
Both men had previously turned out in ICT colours, and agreed to return to the Highlands as part of Robertson’s push to finally get Inverness back to the Premiership.
Robbie Deas and Scott Allardice may not be so well known despite turning out against the Caley Jags in recent years, but Robertson has high hopes for the pair.
“We wanted to bring Robbie up on loan from Celtic in January, but they had an agreement with Alloa that if he was staying out he would stay there for the rest of the season,” he recalled.
“We were keen to add him to our squad, and we got him, so that was good.
“Scott Allardice is another player who we have kept an eye on.
“He was brought to our attention last year, but he stayed in Ireland. He’s a player I like, he’s strong, mobile, he’s very flexible.
“He can play in central midfield and get on the ball with a great range of passing, but he can also play at the back at full back, or centre back if required.
“We see him playing mainly in the centre of the pitch for us, though.”
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