Butcher aims for battling run-in

Last updated : 23 April 2010 By BBC Sport

Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher says his side will pull out the stops for Saturday's penultimate game of the season at Ayr.The Highlanders are keen to extend their 19 game unbeaten and seven straight wins on the bounce to the end of the season, if not further.

"We want to win and we want to do justice to the league," said Butcher.

"It's only fair on the clubs fighting relegation that we put out a good team and a good show like we normally do."

Speaking after Wednesday night's defeat of Dundee by Raith Rovers which secured a fourth promotion for the Inverness side in its 16-year history, Butcher made no attempt to conceal his joy at pulling off the feat of an immediate bounce back to the Scottish Premier League after last season's traumatic relegation.

we need to start work on that straight away but we've got plans, we've got some people to talk to and hopefully we can start to do that very, very quickly

Terry Butcher

"I feel like a little boy on Christmas day morning," said Butcher.

"You've got all your presents in front of you, you don't know which one to open, you don't know which one to play with next and, wow, I just feel special."

With only three first team players and a couple of youngsters signed past the end of this season, Butcher now has the urgent priority of assembling a squad for next season's SPL campaign.

He has already paid tribute to the extent to which his current squad has gelled in the run up to their title triumph but his eyes will also be cast beyond the Caledonian Stadium.

"We obviously want to do well in the SPL next year so we have to look ahead straight away," said Butcher.

"It will come round pretty fast and we'll need to move fast because we only have three players from this squad which are signed up.

"So, we need to start work on that straight away but we've got plans, we've got some people to talk to and hopefully we can start to do that very, very quickly."

Despite the distraction of their promotion, the current Inverness squad - many of whom are now playing for their places in the SPL - looks set to continue to present a formidable challenge at Ayr.

They will be backed by a larger than normal away support, many based outwith the Highlands, intent on having a big promotion party.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport