Canning tempted south by Gretna

The powerful centre half was offloaded yesterday after big-spending Gretna upped their offer to 50,000 plus future fees.

Canning was a crucial part of the Dingwall club's promotion bid, but expressed a desire to return south after his parents' marital split.

The add-on fee, dependent on Canning's and Gretna's progress, could amount to as little as 10,000 extra, well below County's initial six- figure valuation

A fair portion of the modest windfall is also likely to be eaten up by pay-offs already agreed for the terminated contracts of strikers Steven McGarry and Maciej Nuckowski

, while a similar severance deal is expected to be cut for out-of-favour County midfielder Stuart Taylor.

Gardner Speirs, the club's caretaker manager, admitted: "Martin's departure is poor timing for us, of course, given the immediacy of Saturday's game against St Mirren.

"Obviously, we want to keep all of our best players, but Martin had some personal concerns and felt he wanted to go. Gretna upped their offer and it was accepted.

"It's disappointing when you lose important players, but we just have to get on with it and stay positive.

"At this time, Sean Webb is in my thoughts to step into that position and I'm sure he will acquit himself well."

Speirs, who still wants the managerial position permanently, also welcomed the rejection of a 'derisory' offer of 45,000 from Inverness Caledonian Thistle for John Rankin.

County claim they do not want to sell the player, especially to their local rivals, but would accept a six-figure sum as in the club's best interests.

Speirs acknowledged: "John would have been a big loss. But I'd stress all of this [transfer activity] is a credit to the whole team, not just the players subject to the bids.

"We still have ambitions. In an ideal world, we'd be able to keep all of our best players, but circumstances can make that impossible."

Speirs, meanwhile, confirmed County are unlikely to add fresh faces in the January transfer window.

He said: "It's unfortunately looking that way. If it is was at all possible, we would add to the squad but it doesn't look likely."