Caley Thistle midfielder Greg Tansey has urged his out-of-contract team-mates to follow his lead and commit to the club.
Tansey signed a two-year extension to his contract yesterday with the option of a third year if all goes well.
The Englishman was one of several players out of contract in the summer, with Graeme Shinnie, Billy Mckay, Marley Watkins and Josh Meekings also in the last six months of their current deals.
Now his own future has been resolved, Tansey hopes his team-mates do likewise, insisting the squad has the potential to improve upon Caley Thistle’s position of fifth in the Premiership.
Tansey added: “We’ve got a few lads out of contract and I’m hoping the rest follow suit. We’ve got a very good squad here that can compete with anyone in this league. I’m hoping that the squad sticks together and we can just add to it. We can become a bigger force in the league.
“We’re only going to get better as a team the longer we’re together; the longer we buy into what the manager is doing and get used to playing that way.”
Tansey is in his second spell with Inverness, having rejoined from Stevenage last January just 18 months after leaving Caledonian Stadium first time around.
However, despite his contract being up in the summer, the 26-year-old was mindful his last spell in English football did not work out as he had hoped.
Tansey says his previous experience – coupled with his love of living in the Highlands – was a strong factor in his decision to commit to the Caley Jags until 2017, with the option of another year. Tansey said: “A player always wants to play at the highest level they can – I’m one of them. But I didn’t see the point in taking risks when I’ve got it so good here. I didn’t see the point in burning any bridges. I’m happy living here. Under the current manager and the style of play we’ve got, I didn’t see any need to leave.
“The negotiations were fairly simple. I’m glad it’s finally done and I can concentrate on kicking on for the rest of the season.
“It’s a very different environment here – cats walk around in twos back home. It’s a lovely place. You go out into town and everyone is really nice to you.
“There’s just something about living here that I like. There’s no point wasting that and I wanted to spend my best years playing football here.”