KENNY Cameron, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle chairman, spent much of Thursday in Sheriff Court manoeuvrings to remove a group of travelling folk occupying the club car park.
It is the impermanence and migratory tendencies of the Inverness first team squad, though, that must be vexing the Highland club’s supporters entering the new season.
Five signings have gone some way to replacing the likes of Graeme Shinnie, Marley Watkins, Eddie Ofere and Billy Mckay.
But the relatively threadbare nature of the home squad was exposed yesterday as Gary Warren and Josh Meekings joined a list of walking wounded.
The team, which exited the Europa League with heads held high 10 days ago, looked flat and out-of-sorts while Motherwell, striking early through impressive new signing Wes Fletcher, were worthy winners.
Ominously for Inverness, in sharp contrast to last season’s dearth of selection troubles, the squad is already riddled with injuries, with a feared leg break for Gary Warren.
“He’s away in an ambulance,” manager John Hughes confirmed. “But I don’t think there was any malice in the tackle from Stephen Pearson, and likewise Gary’s tackle on [Scott] McDonald.
“It’s a massive concern. First and foremost, he’s the captain this year. If I had 11 Gary Warrens we’d be all right at this club.”
Motherwell immediately held the upper hand. Inside the first 30 seconds, Gary Warren bludgeoned Scott McDonald late to draw a booking.
Three minutes later, the 24-year-old Fletcher had Motherwell in front.
Caley Thistle’s Greg Tansey gave the ball away just outside the box, Stephen Pearson drew a parry from keeper Owain Fon Williams and Fletcher tucked it away neatly from 12 yards.
Fletcher, in fact, almost produced a second after 24 minutes as he feinted on the edge of the box, finding space, and stabbing a low shot narrowly past the post.
When Martin Johnson thundered into the home box and was bumped to floor by Danny Devine for a penalty, it was clear the hosts were in trouble.
Motherwell striker McDonald rarely misses but his strike placed low to the right drew a brilliant save from Wales Under-21 international Owain Fon Williams.
When Motherwell’s Stephen Pearson clattered through Warren there was further worry as he exited, with Josh Meekings also injured by the break.
Mbuyi-Mutombo provided Inverness’s greatest hope of revival, demonstrating sharp footwork, good mobility and intelligent use of the ball.
But nothing, really, came off for the home side as they huffed and puffed in Motherwell’s half, short on spark and inspiration.
The visitors, in contrast, seemed happy to contain their lead and strike on the break and did a comfortable job of it as the minutes ticked away.
Ian Baraclough, Motherwell manager, said after the game: “It’s a clean sheet and three points away from home, against a club that did very well indeed last season. I couldn’t ask for any more, really.”
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