Butcher - time was right to wield axe

TERRY Butcher has wielded the axe big time – but he’s urging Caley Thistle fans to trust him as he reshapes the squad for the future.

The ICT manager will be releasing 10 first-team players at the end of the season, with vice-captain Grant Munro and Russell Duncan the most notable departures.

The others who won’t be offered new contracts at Inverness are - Stuart Golabek, Eric Odhiambo, Chris Innes, Roy McBain, Gil Blumenshtein, Dani Sanchez, Chris Hogg and goalkeeper Max Johnson.

Having reached the tally of 553 games, ICT legend Ross Tokely has been offered a new one-year contract, as have Adam Rooney, Kenny Gillet and Stuart Duff. Gavin Morrison and Shane Sutherland have been rewarded with two-year offers.

Inverness-born Munro, and Duncan, both aged 30, have each clocked up more than 350 games each for the Highlanders, while McBain, who was on loan at Second Division Brechin City and Golabek has been at the club for 11 and 10 years respectively.

Butcher spoke candidly to the HN, stressing that he knows this summer presents a massive challenge to the club to replace players responsible for helping Caley Thistle hit the heights for so long.

The former Rangers and England skipper explained: "This week has been hard, telling players about their futures is never easy. We have had sunshine over Inverness, but there has been a cloud hanging over us.

"I had to also tell the under-19s and that’s even harder because the younger players are in tears, it’s their first set-back.

"It’s never easy making decisions to release players – it’s the hardest thing you have to do as a manager.

"We feel that we signed the core players back last year after the promotion to the SPL and now it’s time to break up that core and move forward.

"The four players we announced first on Monday night, Grant, Russell, Roy and Stuart have done a fantastic job to lay down the foundations for the future and for the club to move forward.

"We wish them success because they have been brilliant for us. Football is very much a movement business these days. I’m surprised most clubs don’t have revolving doors because so many players come and go – as do staff, including managers and coaches.

"The chairman was right this week when he said you won’t see players like Grant being at a club for a long period of time because managers change, opinions change and football changes. These players have been brilliant for us and it has been difficult telling them that they are going to be released."

He added: "They have taken the news well, taken it on the chin and they will move forward. We still have a few games to play this season and we tried to make these decisions early because in the last two years it’s always had to be after the last game because we didn’t know which league we were going to be in.

"This time, there was no easy time to do it – doing it just before the Celtic game was maybe not the best time, but it’s important that the players found out as soon as possible."

The former Motherwell boss started the process to replace his senior players some time ago, but he’s sure he can attract new faces to whet fans’ appetites.

He explained: "It’s a massive test to try and bring players here who are equally as good or better. That’s something we started working on a good while ago, we’ve been looking at players, assessing players, and looking at DVDs and attending games, so we’re doing the best we can. We are confident we will bring in players who will serve the club well in the future.

"Ten players leaving is a lot, but sometimes it has to be like that. We want to move the club forward, move in a different direction and, whilst it is scary at times, it’s also exciting because we’re looking at players who can give something different to the club as well.

"It’s hard for the fans, I appreciate that. They have grown up to be accustomed to these players being at the club, but players and managers don’t stay at clubs forever. Sometimes, you have to change."

Retaining wanted man Rooney is top of the manager’s thoughts at the moment as he aims to keep the Dubliner, who’s netted 19 goals this season, at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium.

In the last transfer window, the board knocked back a bid of £100,000 for the striker from Russians Kuban Krasnodar, while Hibs spoke to the players. Hearts are also believed to have shown an interest.