The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Caley Jags mass exodus
Caley Thistle have confirmed 14 players will depart the Highlanders in a summer exodus ahead of next season.
Skipper Carl Tremarco and midfielder Charlie Trafford have been released, while defender Shaun Rooney and forward Jordan White have agreed precontracts elsewhere.
R o o n e y i s j o i n i n g Premiership side St Johnstone, while White’s destination has not been revealed. The forward, who has finished Caley Jags’ leading scorer in each of the last two seasons, has been linked with Motherwell.
Winger Tom Walsh and youngster Matheus Machado have also both turned down new two-year deals and will depart at the end of this month.
Inverness boss John Robertson had been keen to retain Walsh, who struggled with a hamstring injury last season. However, the former Rangers player has opted to move on.
Inverness will also part company with eight of the youngsters who spent time on loan with Fort William last season: Daniel Hoban, Donald Morrison, Gabriel Hastings, Ryan Fyffe, Harry Nicolson, Jack Brown, Ross Gunn and Roddy Kennedy.
The Press and Journal understands Inverness will retain all players who have not been offered new deals in order for them to receive an income courtesy of the UK government’s job retention scheme. The Highlanders have, however, agreed new deals with four players: vicecaptain Aaron Doran, forward Nikolay Todorov, defender Brad Mckay and keeper Cammy Mackay.
A club statement said the coronavirus pandemic was a major factor in so many players departing the club.
The statement said: “It’s fair to say that if we were not in the middle of a global pandemic there are players who most certainly would have been offered new contracts.
“We wish all of the boys who are leaving us a long and successful career wherever the road takes them next.”