Ross County midfielder Joe Chalmers credits Hamilton Accies manager Brian Rice with playing a major role in his career-changing switch into midfield.
Chalmers worked under Rice during their time together at Caley Thistle, where the 55-year-old worked as assistant to John Robertson before leaving for a similar role at St Mirren last summer.
Rice was handed his first frontline opportunity just six months later when he succeeded Martin Canning as Accies’ head coach.
Chalmers was not surprised to see Rice handed his chance, having been left impressed by how he helped him with his own transition from left-back into midfield at Inverness.
Chalmers, who is preparing to come up against Hamilton in today’s Premiership opener, said: “Brian was a massive influence. Since I’ve started playing, he has been one of the best guys and one of the best coaches I’ve worked with.
“He does everything right. He is always the last to leave.
“When he was looking at opposition teams, he left no stone unturned. He just loves it. He lives for football and is always trying to help you.
“He spent a lot of time trying to help me and I was glad to see him getting a chance as first-team manager at Hamilton.
“There was maybe surprise just because he wasn’t long at St Mirren and he hadn’t really been linked with it.
“But when he got the job I wasn’t surprised in the sense that, speaking to him, I knew he could make a really good manager in his own right. He had everything I felt to go and make a success of management. He likes to play in the right way. I was glad for him.
“It turns out we’re playing them first game of the season – and hopefully we can turn them over.
“Apart from this weekend, hopefully he can do a good job.”
Chalmers will return to the top flight with the newly-promoted Staggies having opted to leave rivals Inverness earlier this summer following a two-year spell at Caledonian Stadium.
Chalmers had a previous Premiership stint with Motherwell but, after making just 23 starts in two years, he is eager to make a bigger impact this time around.
The 25-year-old added: “When I left Motherwell and came to Inverness, we had two years in the Championship and I was disappointed not to get promoted with them.
“But I’m here now and where I want to be.
“I want to go out and do myself justice this time. I feel I’ve come a long way in those two years and I’m in a much better place now.”
“I feel a lot more ready for it and I’m playing in a different position now as well, which has helped.
“I feel I’m in a lot better place physically and mentally to have a far better crack at it.”