Caley Thistle goalkeeper coach and chief scout Steve Marsella will join Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas at Hibs today after turning down the chance to stay with the Highland club.
Compensation has been agreed for Marsella, pictured below, to start work at Easter Road on a two and half year contract with the former Caley Thistle management team who moved to Edinburgh last week.
The 46-year-old said: “The chairman Kenny Cameron was brilliant, he offered me a position and a contract with the club.
“The reason I need to move on is because my position is one a lot of managers don’t keep.
“If a new manager comes in at Inverness he will want to bring his players in and use his own scouts and agents and his own goalkeeping coach.
“I had lunch with the chairman and a long chat and he wanted me to stay, but I think it is time for me to move on although I wish the club all the best.
“Kenny’s ideas are brilliant and I thank him for his loyalty, but I don’t want to be stuck at a club where the manager did not want me. Terry and Maurice want me and I am looking forward to going to Hibs now.”
It was a difficult farewell for Marsella who recruited the majority of the Caley Thistle squad. He added: “It is hard to leave as I have brought in 36 players in three years to Inverness, including 10 from non-league football in England.
“Some have moved on and it is nice to see them all doing so well. I would drive down and meet players and then Terry Butcher would persuade them to come up, telling them they had the chance to play clubs such as Celtic, Rangers and Hearts, rather than Joe Bloggs United on a Saturday.
“We all worked well together, Terry, Maurice Malpas and I, and the chairman has been really good.
“Nobody knew who Billy McKay was when I brought him in, or Gary Warren, Dean Brill, James Vincent or Marley Watkins. Joining Hibs gives me the opportunity to get home at one in the morning rather than five or six after going to games in England.”
Marsella is confident Inverness will continue to thrive and said: “I want to let the supporters know, and I appreciate they wanted me to stay, that the club is in a healthy position.”