Former captain Sean Welsh and defender Zak Delaney have both left Caley Thistle.
The 33-year-old Welsh, who joined Inverness from Falkirk in August 2018, has been a stand-out performer over the years, but has often battled against injury. He leaves the club having played in total 143 games, scoring 16 goals.
ICT confirmed on Friday lunchtime the ex-Partick Thistle star had “left the club with immediate effect by mutual consent”. He has been linked with a move to Queen’s Park.
In his first season at the club, Welsh won the players’ player of the year award as the club reached the semi-final of the Premiership play-offs and the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
Welsh was named the club’s captain at the start of the 2020/21 season and the following year, he played a key role in helping the team to the Premiership play-off final against St Johnstone, starting in all the play-off matches in the run to the final.
Key goals scored on way to Hampden
Last season, he again stood up to the plate, particularly as the club went all the way to the Scottish Cup final where they lost 3-1 against treble-winners Celtic.
He scored in the fifth round 3-0 win against Livingston and the winner against another top-flight team, Kilmarnock, in the quarter-final.
Welsh captained the side in the semi-final victory against Falkirk and the final at Hampden in June.
Injury sidelined him between mid-July and mid-November this season and he’s played nine matches across all competitions.
He was out of action when manager Duncan Ferguson replaced Billy Dodds.
The captaincy duties were handed over to Danny Devine and Billy Mckay, with Welsh’s main aim to get match-fit and back in the team, as he has done.
Spiders set to make Welsh move
ICT’s Championship rivals Queen’s Park, according to reports in the Daily Record, look set to make him their new manager Callum Davidson’s first signing.
Inverness are in action tonight (Friday) when they host title-chasing Dundee United.
So far, Ferguson has made one move in the transfer window, bringing in Wigan Athletic loanee defender James Carragher, son of Liverpool legend Jamie.
The club can confirm that Zak Delaney has left the club with immediate effect by mutual consent.
We thank Zak for all his contributions while at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and wish him the very best in the future.
Full Statement 👉 https://t.co/acMLRGV5UC pic.twitter.com/axNMt7UvLA
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) January 12, 2024
Delaney departs after 52 appearances
Hours after Welsh’s exit, Dublin-born defender Zak Delaney was also confirmed as leaving the Caledonian Stadium.
He has joined Arbroath on a deal until the end of the season.
𝐙𝐚𝐤 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐲
We are delighted to announce the signing of defender Zak Delaney from Inverness Caledonian Thistle until the end of the season.
Zak is a talented left back and goes straight into tomorrow’s squad vs Ayr United.
➡️https://t.co/3jvlBLAc8W#CmonTheLichties pic.twitter.com/30Z6mCUgjy
— Arbroath FC (@ArbroathFC) January 12, 2024
The 22-year-old, who represented Ireland at under-18 level, joined ICT in the summer of 2022 after kicking off his career at West Brom, coming through the club’s academy and spent loan time at National League South side Bath City.
Delaney, who can play left-back or centre-half, reached the 52 appearance mark for the club this season and last year’s experiences included coming off the bench in the Scottish Cup semis and final.
Caley Thistle have also released 19-year-old midfielder Harry Hennem following the end of his contract.
Hennem, who joined ICT as a 14-year-old, has had loan spells over the years at Highland League clubs Brora Rangers, Wick Academy and Clachnacuddin.
Although unable to break through to first-team level, he scored the winner in ICT’s under-18 Scottish Cup quarter-final against Auchinleck Talbot in 2022.
Meanwhile, midfielder Lewis Hyde has joined Brora Rangers on loan until the end of the season.
Hyde, 21, has played 48 first-team matches and has scored once. He has been in the club’s academy system since he was 10-years-old and signed full-time with the club in 2019.