Warren is striving to shine after signing on
Inverness captain Gary Warren is determined to use his bumper new deal to help drive last season’s scottish Cup winners to fresh success.
The defender sounded the rallying cry after committing his future to the club through to summer 2019 on the morning of a frustrating stalemate at the Tulloch Caledonian stadium.
Warren has twice suffered shattering heartache after being punished with automatic bans for both of the club’s historic cup final appearances under manager John Hughes.
He watched from the stands at Hampden Park last May as the team triumphed in the scottish Cup Final against Falkirk after picking up a second booking of the tournament in the semi-final against Celtic.
It had been a similar story just over a year earlier when a red card in the League Cup semi-final victory over Hearts denied the 31-year-old a place in the team ultimately beaten on penalties by Aberdeen.
But, after agreeing to the three-and-a-half-year extension at the weekend, the talented Bristolian made it clear he is hungry to renew the club’s tilt for major honours after last season’s european qualification and silverware success. Warren, who joined from newport County under Terry Butcher in summer 2012, has embraced life in the north of scotland with relish, settling with his family and establishing himself as a first team mainstay.
‘It’s brilliant to have signed up — I’m very pleased. This is a club where I’ve enjoyed my time and I’m in my fourth season now,’ said Warren. ‘We’ve done some special things during my time here, but I want to make sure this club kicks on by maintaining its status in this league and improving every season.
‘We’re the scottish Cup holders and we want to win it again. We’re through to the next round and I hope it is third-time lucky for me on a personal level.
‘The manager has been brilliant with me. He has developed me as a person and a player. When I first started with Caley I was more renowned as a header and a kicker but he has brought out the passing style in my game which is what we are all striving for.’
Despite saturday’s draw, both teams rose in the table — Caley Thistle returning to the top six and Partick moving eighth above Motherwell.
Given the nature of the game, it was understandable that peripheral issues dominated post-match discussion.
For Partick’s Abdul Osman, there was the delicate issue of interest in him from the hosts.
‘I’m quite happy here and we’re talking (about a new contract) and hopefully we can sort something out,’ the 28-year-old Ghanaian said. ‘There are a few interested, but I’m just concentrating on my football. I’m enjoying it so it is all good for me here. ‘One hundred per cent, I’d like to stay. I’ve told the club I’m happy and hopefully we can sort something out.’