The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Tansey still has plenty to do for Caley Jags before Dons
Search on for replacement but Foran sure Greg won’t be easing up
Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran is ready for the challenge of replacing Greg Tansey but feels the Aberdeen- bound midfielder still has plenty to offer theHighlanders in the remaining nine games of this season.
Tansey yesterday signed a three-year pre-contract deal with the Dons, ending Derek McInnes’ long pursuit of the Englishman, who was the subject of a failed £200,000 Aberdeen bid in January 2016.
But Foran is confident Tansey, 28, will not ease his way through his final games for Inverness, who sit above bottom-placed Hamilton Accies on goal difference.
Foran said: “He has been a legend for Inverness, one of the best players to come here. We will really miss him but he goes with the greatest of respect. He has given us everything.
“He will be sorely missed but now we have the challenge of finding the new Greg Tansey.
“It’s a challenge we look forward to. We have set up a very good recruitment planandwehave very good scouts in place. We play Aberdeen on Tuesday and he will want to show the Aberdeen supporters what they are getting.
“Hopefully, that will be a great performance for us.”
F o r a n claims Tansey was not driven by finances, with the Caley Jags manager saying he understands the appeal of the move to Pittodrie, where Tansey will be reunited with several of his former Inverness team-mates including J o n n y Ha y e s , Graeme Shinnie and Miles Storey. Foran added: “I am sure Aberdeen can offer more money than we can but Greg doesn’t play football for money. He wants a new challenge, maybe a new pressure on his shoulders. He maybe thinks they can challenge for the league title down the years.
“He will be playing in front of bigger crowds, playing in Europe, so you can see why he wanted to go to Aberdeen. They have a really good manager there and a really good side.
“Aberdeen have been chasing Greg for numerous years now and eventually got the player. It is a great signing for them.
“I’ve got to say, Aberdeen have been great. I spoke to Derek McInnes two or three times over the last couple of weeks and he was keeping me informed and up to date.
“There’s huge respect between the teams. I wish they didn’t keep coming in and taking our players but it means we’re doing something right and the club, as a whole, is doing something right.
“Good on him – I just hope Greg goes and has a successful time there because he has been immense for us.” Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists Caley Thistle midfielder Greg Tansey has not been brought to Pittodrie as a direct replacement for captain Ryan Jack and hopes to field both players in the same team next season.
Tansey signed a pre-contract agreement with the Dons yesterday and will move to Pittodrie on a three-year deal this summer. Tansey’s imminent arrival softened the blow that NiallMcGinn is set to leave the clubwhenhiscontract expires in the summer for a newchallenge in England. Captain Jack is also nearing the end of his contract andMcInnes was adamant that Tansey has not been signed as his replacement.
He said: “I tried to get Greg Tansey when Ryan Jack was here before. If I can haveRyan Jack sign for next season and if Greg Tansey is in the building as well, I’ll be delighted.”
Bolton Wanderers and SheffieldUnited areamong the clubs interested in landing free agentMcGinn, who has netted 67 goals in 213 appearances since joining the Dons in 2012.
When asked about the prospectof replacingoneof his most pivotal players, McInnes said: “I can’t go and buy an international player who has 51 caps but you can try to look for good players.”