CALEY SQUAD IS RICE PAPER THIN
Bri will carry on until new boss arrives
MIKEY DEVLIN was pictured with a rhino yesterday but has a memory like an elephant.
He’ll never forget the effort his Hamilton Accies team-mates put into securing Premiership safety against Dundee United without him.
The Accies captain is out with a cruciate knee-ligament injury but insisted he’d be back to play his part next season – and that he is going nowhere, despite being linked with Aberdeen.
Devlin said: “I’ll be here next season, there is absolutely no doubt about that. I love playing here and I’m the captain. Staying up means everything to myself, the boys and everybody associated with the club.
“I thought the atmosphere was fantastic. The fans got right behind us and I was getting goosebumps sitting in the stand, listening to how much cheering, passion and encouragement we got.”
Devlin was one of the Accies players and management team who joined local Hamilton artist Angela Nisbet, who produced the 40kg rhino in club colours as part of their sponsorship of the BIG Stampede, an art and tourist trail that launches in the town on June 23.
For further info about The BIG Stampede visit www.thebigstampede.co.uk BRIAN RICE remains in the dark over his own prospects at Inverness as he plots the futures of others at the Championship-bound club. The 53-year-old, who worked as assistant boss to John Hughes and the recently sacked Richie Foran, is now the most senior coach left at the club. Under the instruction of the Caley Thistle board, Rice has overseen a mass clearout with the departure of 11 of the relegated squad this week. But with no new boss in place responsibility has fallen square on his shoulders to seek out potential signing targets. Aberdeen coach Paul Sheerin, Queen’s Park manager Gus MacPherson and Dundee United legend Maurice Malpas are believed to be the three men in the running to replace Foran.
Former midfielder Rice said: “I have just been told to carry on as normally as possible until the new manager comes in.
“It’s a busy time of the season and even though a lot of people are on holiday we’re not. There are players released and players getting new contracts.
“We are trying to arrange pre-season too so that everything is in place for when the new manager comes in.
“It’s a unique situation where some players have already been released and some people are in negotiations to return and we’re looking at new targets.
“We don’t really know who is going to be in charge and if they will be the same targets when the new manager comes in.
“We’ve drawn lists up so when someone comes in, there are names there.”
Striker Alex Fisher, who hit seven goals in the last eight games of the doomed Premiership campaign, has knocked back the offer of a new deal and is believed to be leaving.
However, Josh Meekings, a hugely-influential figure in the heart of the Inverness defence for five seasons before persistent knee problems this season, is not being offered a new contract.
Rice was also given the task of telling defenders Louis Laing, Lewis Horner and Jason Brown and attackers Henri Anier and Dean Ebbe that there would be no contract offer on the table.
Loaned attackers Billy Mckay and Larnell Cole have also left, while Billy King has joined Dundee United and midfielder Greg Tansey had already sealed a summer move to Aberdeen back in January.
Only Kevin McNaughton, the veteran former Scotland, Aberdeen and Cardiff City defender, and young goalkeeper Cammy Mackay, have been offered new deals.
“But I was obviously hoping that it would last a bit longer.
“The time I have had here has been brilliant.
“It’s been a great experience for me and my family. I am full of great memories, obviously some bad ones as well in more recent times.”
United boss Ray McKinnon is ringing the changes as he looks to rebuild for the new season with the departures of Tony Andreu, Alex Nicholls and Thomas Mikkelsen, who are returning to their parent clubs.
And the trio of Luis Zwick, Frank van der Struijk and Jordan Garden have also been told they won’t be offered new deals.
Internationals –Togo 0, Nigeria 3; Switzerland 1, Belarus 0; Iraq 1, Jordan 0.
Toulon Tournament – Angola U-20s 1, Japan U-19s 1; England U-20s B 7, 1 Cuba U-20s 1.
World Cup U-20 play-off – Mexico U-20s 1, Senegal U-20s 0; France U-20s 1, Italy U-20s 2; USA U-20s 6, New Zealand U-20s 0.
Uefa Women’s Champions League Final – Lyon 0, Paris Saint-Germain 0 (Lyon win 7-6 on penalties aet).
FOOTBALL TODAY West Region play-off final second leg – Kilwinning (1) v (0) Kilsyth (7.30).
Internationals – Oman v Syria (7.30); Northern Ireland v New Zealand (7.45); France v Paraguay (8.0).
Toulon Tournament – Bahrain U-20s v Wales U-20s (4.0); France U-19s v Ivory Coast U-20s (6.30).