Elgin City boss Gavin Price is adamant the club can replace Shane Sutherland when the striker departs Borough Briggs in the summer.
Sutherland, in his fourth spell with Elgin, will leave for Caley Thistle at the end of the season but Price believes there are players in the squad that can step up and replace him.
The 29-year-old took the captain’s armband upon Darryl McHardy’s loan move to Rothes in the January window.
He has contributed 15 league goals this season, although he limped out of the 3-0 win over Cove Rangers last weekend with a hamstring injury.
They did lose Sutherland midway through last season, as he embarked on a second stint with Peterhead and won the League 2 title.
He was back in the black and white shirt in the summer, though, and has continued to add to his impressive record at Elgin.
His contribution this season has extended to 25 goals in all competitions and he has helped Elgin to fourth place, as they chase a play-off place.
Price is confident the club are capable of replacing such a pivotal figure, in the short and long-term.
Price said: “We had to do it last season – it’s something we’ve got to do.
“Do we change the style we play slightly? Maybe.
“We do centre a lot of our football around getting the ball into him, so he can be effective. But we’re not a one-man team.
“You’ve got guys like Brian Cameron and Rory MacEwan who are excellent on the ball, Kane Hester is smart and scoring goals and you’ve got wide players that cause problems like Rabin (Omar), Conor O’Keefe and Daniel MacKay.
“There are plenty of players in the team in forward areas that could take responsibility, it’s just about how we adapt to that.
“Conor frightens teams with his pace, so it’s a big asset to have.
“We’ve got different players and abilities that can open up teams.
“Obviously Shane will be a miss but we’re going to miss him next season anyway.
“It’s something that we’re going to have to do at some point.
“I would put it as a massive noose around our neck.
“We’ve got players we might need to play in a slightly different style, but apart from that we’ve got players that are capable of winning games.”
