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I know this is the norm at this period of the close-season, but I feel a little uneasy if we end up loosing Remi by playing ‘who blinks first’ with a cheap contract offer. Splashing headlines about resigning Shinnie (where decent money is involved), then playing hard ball with Remi on money could backfire badly if he moves elsewhere for a better purse! Remi is a far more valuable asset to have in the team next season than Shinnie in my view. Ie we have player options in midfield; central defence is sorely exposed if Danny has to team up with a new (another) sweeper. bc

Have yourself a long lie in, nothing to see here. Caley Thistle manager Scott Kellacher admits he’ll have to show patience in the summer transfer window. Fresh from leading his hometown team to the League One title in his first full season as head coach, his work has not stopped since winning promotion a month ago. There are player contracts to sort out, but the signing of Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie on a two-year deal was a great opening move, with goalkeepers Ross Munro and Logan Ross and midfielder Paul Allan all signing new contracts last week. Kellacher is also trying to secure the signings of Alfie Bavidge and Alfie Stewart, who helped ICT win automatic promotion back to the Championship. The duo, who were on loan from Aberdeen last term, have been offered contracts at the Dons, having been told they would not be staying before Stephen Robinson became the manager in March. ‘I’m quite impatient. I like to try and get transfer business done early’Most of Caley Thistle’s transfer work was concluded early last year, but Kellacher’s assessment in early June is some targets might take longer to land. He told The Press and Journal: “There is still a lot of work to do in terms of players we want to keep at the club as well as bring to the club. “I’m quite impatient. I like to try and get transfer business done early, so that we’re settled. Caley Thistle manager Scott Kellacher after winning the League One title. “I just need to be more patient, because there is a lot of interest in players we’re trying to sign, as well as working with the players already at the club and sorting out contracts. “We’re almost there with a few more, so hopefully over the next couple of weeks we will get more players in. “If we’re to take one or two loan players in, we can’t get frustrated if it’s later on. That’s how it might have to be.” Kellacher’s pride in promotion featStenhousemuir, who took the League One title race all the way, joined Caley Thistle in winning promotion via the play-offs, winning the final against Alloa Athletic, who had sent Airdrie down. Livingston have been relegated from the Premiership, while Championship runners-up Partick Thistle were edged out 2-1 by St Mirren, keeping the under-pressure Buddies in the top flight. Kellacher can’t wait to be back in the second tier of Scottish football in a division which also includes Arbroath, Dunfermline Athletic, Raith Rovers, Queen’s Park, Morton and Ayr United, who have taken Gary Naysmith as their manager from Stenhousemuir. He added: “I’m so proud to be back in the Championship with Caley Thistle. “It’s an exciting league, including this season when Partick Thistle were very unlucky not to go up. Credit to St Mirren, they got the job done. “The play-off final is always weighted to help the Premiership side, and it is always hard going for the Championship club. ‘There are a lot of good players and good managers in League One’“When you see the Championship games on a Friday night, they are brilliant. “We’re glad to be part of the Championship again. “League One is a hard division to get out of. We got the job done, but we fully appreciate how hard it was. “I have to give a lot of teams credit. They were resilient and the play some good football. “There are a lot of good players and good managers in League One. “It was a great learning curve, so hopefully that stands us in good stead for the season ahead.”

Now waiting for newspaper shop to open....

Always good to get a friendly game against one of the lower league teams 😀

Remi has a young family in England so may not wish to stay for any price if an offer on table from nearer home?