John Robertson, the one-time Hearts legend, yesterday took over the managerial reins at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and immediately set his sights on winning the Bell's Scottish League first division title. The 38-year-old bid farewell to Livingston, where he spent 41/2 years, after agreeing a 31/2-year deal with the title-chasing Highland club.

Robertson hit 310 goals in 719 appearances during his 18-year love affair with Hearts - broken only by a six-month stint at Newcastle - and there is no little irony in one of the first tasks he faces at Inverness. With the transfer window looming, Robertson must persuade Caley Thistle's own scoring hero, Dennis Wyness, to stay with the title-chasing club as Livingston and Aberdeen bid to sign him.

Robertson, though, will have made an immediate impression on supporters yesterday by pledging to continue the tradition of attacking football established by Steve Paterson, now at Aberdeen, over seven successful years.

''Leaving Livingston was not an easy decision, but to come here and be your own master has a very big appeal,'' he said. ''This club is very ambitious and play attacking football and that is the way I like to see the game played. That is what we will continue to do.

''I have served a great apprenticeship under Jim Leishman and Davie Hay and I am now looking forward to getting in at the sharp end. It is certainly going to be a difficult start with two away games and the small matter of a local derby on Ne'erday sandwiched in between. Once we are through that, though, I'll have a much clearer idea of how to take the club forward.''

Robertson, capped 16 times by his country, admitted that succeeding the idolised pairing of Paterson and Duncan Shearer was an intimidating prospect but he clearly views the standards he must live up to as more of a blessing than a curse, given the squad of players he has inherited.

''Steve and Duncan have done a terrific job here and left me with a fantastically well-

balanced and capable team,'' he said. ''I don't think I will need to make many changes here, but they are certainly a very hard act to follow.''

Robertson also hinted he would seek early talks with Wyness, who has six months to run of his current deal, but knows other potential targets at the club are securely under contract. Stressing he did not want any players to leave, Robertson said: ''In a sense, I'd be disappointed if there wasn't interest in players here.''

Robertson is believed to have beaten off the challenge of Peterhead's Ian Wilson and Queen of the South's John Connelly to the job after Aston Villa's Kevin MacDonald dropped out of the race.

Ken Mackie, the Caledonian Thistle chairman, said: ''When Steve and Duncan left, we really wondered what we could do to replace them and how to go about it. There was an overwhelming response of around 60 applications for the job.

''We wanted someone capable of taking us into the Premierleague, as our ambitions still lie there, and someone with solid coaching skills and good contacts throughout the game. I'm very pleased to say we came to a decision which fulfils that criteria and we believe we have found a terrific successor in John Robertson.''

Robertson hinted he would move swiftly to appoint an assistant and the presence of experienced former Celtic midfielder Charlie Christie by his side yesterday increased speculation he is in the frame.

Veteran Christie, who plays, coaches and holds a commercial role at Caledonian Stadium, said: ''John will be an extremely popular choice with the players given his credentials, achievements and reputation.

''The players enjoy the sort of attacking football we have played and the fact a highly-successful striker has taken charge will be particularly pleasing to the rest of the guys.''

Robertson may well find he has a younger pool of up-and-coming talent to pick from as well: Caley Thistle's under-18s are fresh from a Scottish Youth Cup triumph over Rangers.

Graeme Bennett, the vice-chairman, said: ''Given that result, it is a fantastic week for football in the Highlands. From our point of view, this is a great beginning to a new era: there is money in the bank and we are sitting top of the league.''