Caley Thistle’s Gary Warren is confident manager Terry Butcher will reject any approach from Hibernian and instead try to take Inverness to the League Cup final.
Butcher has been linked with the Hibs job following Pat Fenlon’s resignation. The Hibs board met yesterday to discuss targets, with former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant, former Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels and former Hibees manager Tony Mowbray all under consideration.
Butcher has also been touted as a candidate but no approach has been made and Warren believes his manager, who turned down a move to Championship club Barnsley in January, will stay in the Highlands if an overture is made from Easter Road.
He said: “The manager has been linked with a few jobs which is no surprise as he has done an incredible job here. Knowing the way he is he will want to take us to a cup final.
“He likes it in Inverness and at the club, so I think he will stay here.”
Warren cited Butcher’s influence as the main factor in his decision to move to Inverness a year ago. Were Butcher to leave, Warren feels it would hit the players hard.
He added: “No one gives him any stick when he is linked with jobs as he would give us a clip around the ear. He has played for England in World Cup finals and has more than 70 caps for his country. Given I play in the same position he did, for him to say he liked me as a player was a feather in my cap and why I couldn’t turn down the chance to come here.
“It would be bitterly disappointing if he did go as he is the guy who keeps us going and keeps us all on our toes at the club.”
The speculation surrounding Butcher did not affect the Inverness players as they beat Kilmarnock 2-1 on Saturday. Warren was pleased to see his side get back to winning ways in the league following defeats by St Johnstone and Partick Thistle.
He said: “It’s been a good week for us. We’re through to the semi-finals of the League Cup again and we’re back to winning ways in the league.”