Inverness CT: Terry Butcher predicts tight Premiership
Last updated on .From the section Football
Inverness manager Terry Butcher reckons this Scottish Premiership season will be one of the tightest top-flight campaigns for some time.
The Highlanders finished fourth in season 2012-13.
"There's a lot more competition this year than there was last year," Butcher told BBC Scotland.
"When you look at the teams and the way things are shaping up, albeit after one game, everybody's fighting for that second spot."
Three goals in nine second half minutes against St Mirren got Butcher's side off to a great start in last weekend's season opener.
Next up is Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday. Jackie McNamara's men took a point from their opening Premiership encounter versus Partick Thistle.
"There's a real belief amongst the lads," said Butcher.
"That explosive burst just into the second half against St Mirren certainly fired the boys up and gave them a belief that we can do very well this year.
"But it's only one game. It's a totally different proposition against Dundee United on their own patch."
Caley Thistle got an excellent 4-0 win at Tannadice in United's first home league game of 2010-11, and last season the sides played out a 4-4 draw in Tayside.
"We have gone down there in the past and got some excellent results," Butcher added.
"A few of the boys will have scored against United, whether here or at Tannadice, so we've got good memories of being there.
"We revel in any space that's given to us because we've got players on either flank or through the middle that can create chances and score goals.
"It took us three games to get three points last year and eight to get our first win so at this moment we're well ahead of schedule."
Meanwhile, Aviemore businessman and farmer Allan Munro has joined the board of Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Munro has been a supporter, shareholder and sponsor of the club since its early years.
Caley Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron says Munro's business acumen will make him "a significant asset to the board".
