Ross County defender Scott Boyd led the tributes to captain Richard Brittain after the midfielder played his final game for the Staggies in Saturday’s 2-1 Premiership win at Kilmarnock.
Brittain was the most notable of 15 players released by manager Jim McIntyre last week, bringing his seven-year stay with the Staggies to an end.
Brittain received an emotional send-off from the County supporters, who travelled to Rugby Park.
Kilmarnock took the lead through Greg Kiltie’s first-half goal before Liam Boyce and Rocco Quinn scored to ensure County finished the season in ninth place in the table.
Only Boyd, who joined from Partick Thistle in September 2007, has been with the Dingwall club longer than Brittain, and the 28-year-old is sad to see the former Livingston and St Mirren player leave.
Boyd said: “Richie has been a brilliant servant to the club. Credit to him because he has been a great captain, friend and team-mate to all of us for a very long time.
“It’s sad to see him go. It was a pretty emotional time after the game finished in the dressing-room and Richie was a bit upset.
“He has done superbly for the club for a long period of time and I’m sure he’ll move on to something good.
“No one will forget what he did for Ross County and what the club achieved in the time he was there is a credit to him.
“We have been together all the way through and I can’t speak highly enough of him as a person. He’s been excellent and it is a sad time. Myself and Richie had been together at County as the club started to rise.
“I joined the club when we were in the Second Division and Richie has been part of things for most of that period as well.
“It looks as though things are going to be changing quite a bit at the club and it’s disappointing Richie cannot play a part.”
Boyd is one of six players in negotiations about a new contract and the defender is keen to stay with the Highlanders.
Boyd added: “I’m not sorted. I’m still negotiating but I’d like to get it sorted soon. This can be an uncertain time for a lot of footballers and I’d just like to get things concluded.
“I’ve been here for eight seasons and feel like a big part of the club. The club is a big part of my life and I’ve been there that long that everyone thinks I come from Dingwall.”