Polworth destiny in own hands, says Robertson

Inverness manager John Robertson insists the Highlanders are powerless to prevent midfielder Liam Polworth leaving his hometown club.

Robertson yesterday confirmed an unspecified club – believed to be Premiership side St Johnstone – have approached Caley Jags to inform them of their intention to speak to Polworth over a precontract, with his existing deal up in the summer.

Polworth has made 186 appearances since his Inverness debut at the age of 16 in 2011 but the midfielder has already told Robertson he is not prepared to rush into a new contract.

Robertson said: “We’ve spoken to Liam on a couple of occasions this year and he said he wanted to leave it until the summer and see what options are out there. He’s perfectly entitled to do that.

“This club phoned us and then wrote to us to say they were intending having a chat with Liam. They have gone about it the right way where a lot of teams will make approaches without notifying the other club.

“We’ll just keep abreast of the situation. It depends whether they make inroads with Liam or if he wants to go now or in the summer – or if nothing comes of it.

“If they decide they want him now and Liam decides he wants to go then, obviously, we have to make a decision on what we want to do.

“We don’t have to let him go but, by the same token, we have to look at the future.”

With Inverness sixth in the Championship, Robertson says he is uncertain over his budget for next season, with George Oakley, Joe Chalmers and Nathan Austin among those also out of contract in the summer.

He added: “Until budgets for next season come in and we know what we’re dealing with, it’s impossible to talk to players about signing new deals.

“But we’re hopeful we can get that budget in shortly and then see what we’ve got.”

Meanwhile, Inverness goalkeeper Daniel Hoban has joined Forfar Athletic on loan until the end of the season.

Liam Polworth: Out of contract in the summer