Caley Jags defender Graeme Shinnie will never forget the care Terry Butcher showed to help him recover from the serious stomach injury which threatened to end his career before it had really started.
Manager Butcher and assistant Maurice Malpas have left Inverness but they will not be forgotten by Shinnie.
The Aberdeen-born left back spent seven months – from January to August 2011 – out of the game, receiving hospital treatment with Butcher a regular visitor at his bedside.
While sad to see the management duo leave Inverness for Hibs, Shinnie believes Caley Thistle will continue to flourish.
Shinnie, who has made 115 appearances for the Highlanders, said: “The manager is a big character and there have been lot of funny moments.
“Sometimes it is only after he has given us a rollicking that we can see the funny side of things and there are plenty of great memories from Terry and Maurice’s time here.
“Terry was always really good with me and I only have positive things to say about him.
“When I was injured he was fantastic. He would come to hospital to see me. He went through it all with me, the whole thing, and I could see the delight on his face when I made a full recovery and was ready to join the first-team squad again.
“I have played more than 100 games for Caley Thistle and I would like to thank Terry for everything he did for me and wish him and Maurice all the best.”
Shinnie believes there will be no shortage of quality candidates bidding to succeed Butcher. Caley Jags are second in the Premiership and are also in the semi-finals of the League Cup – for a second successive season.
The former Scotland under-21 international has played under only one manager but is relishing the prospect of keeping Caley Jags in the top half of the table while working with Butcher’s successor.
He added: “Terry and Maurice had been at the club ever since I came through the under-19s.
“I was just moving up when Craig Brewster was sacked and the manager gave me my opportunity.
“I played a lot of games for him and he always showed faith in me. I am disappointed to see him go.
“It is strange, a lot of other players have had various managers but I have only had one and it is a different experience.
“Maybe the manager and Maurice needed a fresh challenge.
“They have done very well here, they have changed the club in many ways.
“We will all need to get used to whoever comes in and I am sure we will learn from them.
“It is an exciting job for whoever gets it. We are second in the league and in the semi-finals of the League Cup and I am sure there will be a lot of managers excited to come here.
“It will not take the new man long to settle in. It will not be a problem at all. All the new players settle in the dressing-room here in no time and there are bright times ahead for the club I am sure.”