Historic SPFL club sign up 11 players and let seven leave as they prepare to rebuild after year of financial turmoil
They are hoping for a better season next year
MONEY TALKS Historic SPFL club sign up 11 players and let seven leave as they prepare to rebuild after year of financial turmoil
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TO say it's been a year of ups and downs for Inverness Caledonian Thistle would be an understatement to say the least.
But after surviving the drop against all odds and now preparing to exit administration, the club is looking to rebuild for the future.
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It's been a season of turmoil for Inverness Caley but it's ending on high
Credit: Kenny Ramsay - Commissioned by The Sun
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Alan Savage is behind a deal to get the club out of administration
Credit: Ken Macpherson - Commissioned by The Sun Glasgow
Scott Kellacher - who recently featured on our One-on-One series - was appointed manager in October after previous boss Duncan Ferguson left the club as they were unable to pay him and his players.
At that point it looked as though Caley Thistle were doomed.
They had been slapped with a 15-point deduction for entering administration and the financial outlook was grim, with club chiefs having knocked back a £1.2m bid to save them.
As recent as March the club was at serious risk of going under as there were no serious offers to take them out of the doldrums.
The economic issues meant they faced losing up to three-quarters of their playing squad.
But last month a deal was agreed that would see them EXIT administration and a few weeks later they officially beat the drop thanks to a 3-0 win over eventual League One champions Arbroath.
Inverness aren't completely out of the mire yet but the future looks much brighter now - and they have started planning for next season.
Kellacher will aim to build on this season's seventh-placed finish and 11 players have been handed new contracts ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Four stars remain locked in talks over extending their deals and a further three youth players have signed their first pro contracts.
One player has been released and six loanees have returned to their parent clubs.
Scott Kellacher on saving Inverness Caley Thistle from the brink, his Celtic days & meeting Al Pacino
A statement from the club read: "Inverness Caledonian Thistle can now give the following squad update following the end of season 2024/25.
"The club are pleased to confirm 11 players in total have agreed new contracts and three players from the ICTFC Academy have agreed their first professional contracts.
"A full statement regarding the Academy players who have agreed their first professional contracts with the club will be released in due course.
"The club can also confirm that striker Ethan Cairns will be released upon expiry of his current contract. Ethan had been with the club since he was 9 years-old and signed for the club full-time in 2021. In total Ethan made 22 appearances for ICTFC and scored once. Everyone at ICTFC would like to thank Ethan for his contributions while at the club and wish him the very best in the future.
"Six loan players have returned to their parent clubs: Alfie Bavidge, Ben Brannan, Keith Bray, Connall Ewan, James Nolan and Alfie Stewart. We'd like to thank all the players for their contributions at Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and we wish them the very best in the future.
"The club would also like to place on record our thanks to Aberdeen FC, Dunfermline Athletic FC, Kilmarnock FC, Manchester United FC and Ross County FC for their assistance with loan players in 2024/25."
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