December 5th 2023
New manager Steven Mackay has completed his first signing as boss at Station Park by bringing in experienced defender Ross Tokely.
The 43-year-old centre back has agreed a deal with the club until the end of the season.
Mackay said: “I am absolutely delighted that Ross has agreed to join us and I am looking forward to working with him once again.
“He is a born winner and leader, and his experience is exactly what we need right now. I know first-hand the qualities that he will bring to our squad having played with him at Brora. There is no doubt that he was one of the main reasons that Brora won back-to-back titles and had such an impressive defensive record.
“Although he is 43, he is looking as fit as he did when he played for Ross County, and I know from speaking to him that his appetite to continue to play is very strong, which must be admired.”
Director of Football, Graeme Macleod, added: “Ross needs no introduction to anyone who knows North football. He has had a stellar career in the full-time game and although he is now in the twilight of his career, his thirst for playing the game is clearly as strong as ever.
“Ross knows the league from his successful time at Brora Rangers and will bring many qualities to our squad which can hopefully help us to improve our current league position.
“I would also like to thank St Duthus for their co-operation in allowing Ross to move on and take up this new challenge with us.”
Tokely spent a total of 16 seasons at Inverness CT winning the Third Division, the Scottish Challenge Cup and the First Division twice.
After a club record of 593 appearances in addition to 30 goals for Inverness, Tokely moved to Ross County for a short stint in the summer of 2012 before joining Brora Rangers the following January.
He won both the Highland League championship and North of Scotland twice as a player at Dudgeon Park before being appointed manager in December 2016, leading the Cattachs to the last 16 of the 2017/18 Scottish Cup, eventually succumbing to Kilmarnock of the Premiership as well as lifting the North of Scotland Cup twice.
He stood down at the end of that season and returned to playing with St Duthus in the North Caledonian League, winning the Football Times Cup and the North Caledonian Cup in a four-year spell with the Tain club.
