There was sadly no happy ending for Caley Thistle at McDiarmid Park on Monday night and coming so close to heading back to the Premiership still hurts a bit.
However, I can’t fault the players for their efforts through the play-offs.
It was a strange season.
There were times at the start and the finish where Inverness racked up points pretty quickly and played some good football.
But there was also a three-month spell in the middle where we lost our way, couldn’t win for love nor money and were not so easy on the eye.
Of course, when you get to the play-offs you want to give it your best shot.
However, all their efforts in recent weeks may have implications on a new season that lies just around the corner.
Inverness will have 24 fewer days for rest and recuperation than many other Championship sides and some players, most notably Shane Sutherland, are unlikely to be ready for the start of the league season, never mind the League Cup groups.
It’s just six weeks on Saturday when Caley Thistle are due to be in competitive action again. Not long, is it?
As is always the case, some faces will disappear over the summer while new ones will arrive.
There will be plenty of new players in red and blue for us to get used to and I imagine Billy Dodds won’t have much time off in the weeks ahead.
However, a good nucleus of players will remain and I feel confident that Caley Thistle can be challengers again next term.
Can Arbroath be as competitive next time? How will Dundee fare after relegation?
What will Cove Rangers and Queen’s Park bring to the party? I think it promises to be another thoroughly competitive division.
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