GARY WARREN insists the chance of playing in “one of the best leagues in the world” was too hard to turn down.

The 27-year-old has grown up in Olveston, where he still lives, but will soon be moving north of the border with his girlfriend after agreeing to join Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a one-year contract from Newport County.

And Warren is relishing the prospect of playing against the likes of Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers and Celtic next season.

Speaking to the Inverness Courier, the defender said: “This is massive. It means everything to me.

“I’ve been given the opportunity to play full-time football in one of the best leagues in the world, so I’m going to give it a real go.

“Hopefully, I can impress a few people in Scotland with what I can do, but there’s no doubt that it’s a huge honour to be given this chance.”

The opportunity of playing under former England captain Terry Butcher was also a big factor in Warren’s decision to join Inverness.

He has risen through the non-league system in recent years, but is under no illusions as to how tough the step up will be from playing in the Blue Square Premier.

He said: “Whenever you go to any club you have to prove something to the supporters, so first and foremost I’ll be aiming to show them what I can do. Hopefully, the fans will like what they see.

“I really hope the fans take to me. They seemed to do that at Newport County and I had three good years with them, but this is a different level for me now.

“However, it’s an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down.”