Just two years on from his previous spell with Ross County, defender Erik Cikos feels like he has joined a different club.
Slovakian international Cikos enjoyed a successful loan spell at Dingwall in 2014 under previous manager Derek Adams but rejoined the Staggies this summer after his departure from Slovan Bratislava.
There has been change aplenty on the field since then, with Jim McIntyre now in charge, while long-serving defender Scott Boyd is the only player who remains from the 14 games Cikos featured in during his previous stint.
It has been the off-field changes which have been most noticeable for the 27-year-old, however. He feels the facilities now in place better enable the squad and management team to thrive.
Cikos, who could play at Victoria Park for the first time since his return in today’s Betfred Cup group stage tie against Raith Rovers, said: “It has changed a lot, everything at the club is better and more professional.
“The gym is much bigger, for example. It’s about twice as big as it was before, and there are new dressing-rooms, too, which help our recovery after games.
“The manager and assistant are nice people. They are very professional.
“The manager before was great but now everything at the club is more professional, so it’s a better place for them to work.
“My friend Scott Boyd said a lot of things were new, so I was prepared. He’s a legend here but it’s just him who is still here from my last spell. The boys are really nice.”
Cikos says it was an easy to decision to return to the club, adding: “The manager asked if I could come for a trial. I came for two weeks and they were satisfied with me, so we made a deal.
“I knew the place and I knew the club, so it was good for me. I like the Scottish Premiership.
“I love Scotland, the whole country but Inverness and Dingwall are really nice places. The people are really nice and kind.”
Cikos watched on from afar as County enjoyed a memorable campaign last term, lifting the League Cup and finishing in the top-six for just the second time, and he wants to be part of another thriving Staggies side this season.
He said: “I heard about last season, it was really successful. I believe I can help achieve the goals of the club again this season.
“We would love to repeat the cup final success, which would be really nice, but, of course, we want to be in the top six. That’s the main goal.”