Caley Thistle may need Premiership football to convince stars to stay – Robertson

Published: 07:50, 13 December 2019

John Robertson admits it might take Premiership football to keep Caley Thistle’s best players at the club.

The Inverness manager made the frank admission while praising defender Coll Donaldson on the eve of his 100th ICT appearance.

Coll Donaldson is one of four Inverness Caledonian Thistle players that has been offered, but not yet signed, a new contract. Picture: Ken Macpherson

The ex-Dundee United defender has played every game this season and become hugely influential since arriving at a low ebb in his career in August 2017.

Tomorrow’s trip to face Partick Thistle finds the visitors in a confident mood after three consecutive Championship wins and clean sheets.

But Robertson’s longer-term plans remain up in the air with four mainstays so far declining to pen new deals before next summer’s expiry. Donaldson (24) is one.

“The main reason [they won’t sign] is they want to play at the highest level possible. There’s nothing wrong with that – that’s ambition.

“But it leaves us in a difficult situation. The fans get impatient and think we’re not trying to sign our best players. We are."

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Football Alasdair Fraser