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David Raven signs up but Marley Watkins and Nick Ross expected to leave Caley Thistle

David Raven has penned a contract extension
David Raven has penned a contract extension

Caley Thistle defender David Raven signed a new one-year contract extension yesterday, but manager John Hughes is preparing for life without midfielders Marley Watkins and Nick Ross who are likely to leave in the summer.

English League 1 side Barnsley and Scottish Championship winners Hearts are both interested in Watkins, while Ross has found starting opportunities limited this season.

Hughes is keen for others to follow Raven’s lead, but will accept it if they decide to move on.

Hughes said: “Hopefully now we can get one or two others tied up. We’re still talking to them.

“But if they see their future elsewhere then there’s not too much we can do.

Watkins' form this season has attracted interest from north and south of the border
Watkins’ form this season has attracted interest from north and south of the border

“There’s no gun held to their head. If they decide they want to leave, so be it. I’ve been in football that long now, I’ve grown to understand it.

“The likes of Marley and Nick still have a big part to play from now until the end of the season.”

Hughes was pleased to secure 30-year-old defender Raven, whose extra-time winner in last month’s 3-2 win against Celtic at Hampden Park secured Inverness’ first Scottish Cup final.

Hughes added: “David deserves it. He’s a good character in the dressing-room and, even at that age, I think we can make him a better player.

“He’s played a big part in what we’ve done this year. It’s nice to reward him and I’m quite sure it will be a real pressure off his back.”

Hughes does not believe assistant Russell Latapy would walk away from Caley Jags if he offered the manager’s job at Championship side Raith Rovers.

Grant Murray was sacked by the Kirkcaldy side earlier this week and Latapy, who was interviewed for the Alloa Athletic job earlier this year, harbours ambitions of becoming a manager.

However, with the prospect of finishing third in the Premiership to secure European football, in addition to this month’s Scottish Cup final against Falkirk, Hughes is confident his assistant will be in no rush to leave.

Hughes added: “He certainly did go down and talk to Alloa. Russell is his own man and one day he’ll be a manager.

“You’d have to ask Russell, but I very much doubt it with what we’re playing for between now and the end of the season – unless he goes and becomes the Raith Rovers manager and can still come on the bench with us in the Scottish Cup final.”