Long-serving Caley Thistle star shown the exit door
DAVID Proctor’s frustrating injury-hit season saw him become the latest player to leave Caley Thistle yesterday.
The defensive midfielder announced his departure on social networking website Twitter, around a week after team mate Jonny Tuffey intimated he was also going.
“I’ve been here a total of eight years and I definitely have some fond memories to look back on,” Proctor said.
“It has been a pretty frustrating season for me, like last season where I had a lot of problems with my hamstrings, which obviously doesn’t help when you’re trying to cement your place in the team and find consistency.
“So both the manager and myself agreed that it would probably be best for me to have a fresh start somewhere else and I’m looking forward to what the future holds.
“I know in football this is what happens, especially in the financial climate, and every manager’s budget is getting slashed so I understand manager’s have their hands tied behind their backs at times and I accept that and move on.”
The 28-year-old will now take some time to assess his future, but believes he could still be a valuable recruit for another Scottish Premier League club.
“It’s been a hectic couple of days and saying my goodbyes has been emotional,” added Proctor, who made 19 appearances this season.
“I have played a lot of games at SPL level in a variety of positions and that is an asset for me. Sometimes it may have held me back from stamped down one particular place in the team but it can also be good to have that variety.”
Proctor was one of several players Inverness manager Terry Butcher held meetings with yesterday morning.
The contracts of Ryan Esson, Thomas Piermayr, Ross Tokely, Owain Tudur Jones, Chris Hogg, Jonny Hayes, Greg Tansey, Gregory Tade, Billy McKay and Kenny Gillet expire at the end of the month.
“I’ve offered a lot of the out of contract players new deals and they will be speaking to their agents and families,” he said. “It is at a very early stage in the process and I want to keep things close to my chest.”