Latest news with #CaleyThistle
Press and Journal
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Former Caley Thistle boss could be brought in by Ross County to add experience to Don Cowie's coaching team
Former Caley Thistle manager John Robertson has been linked with a move to Ross County. According to a report in the Sunday Mail, the Staggies are considering bringing in an experienced coach to assist manager Don Cowie as the club prepares for life in the Championship. County were relegated after losing the Premiership play-off final against Livingston 5-3 on aggregate. Cowie is currently assisted by former Caley Thistle defender Carl Tremarco and Cowie's brother Paul, who previously worked at Dundee United. Former Caley Thistle boss Robertson, who had a short spell in charge of County in 2005, is reportedly under consideration for a role in a new-look County management team. Another name understood to be under consideration is former Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer, who was assistant to Steve Clarke at the Ayrshire club before taking on the manager's role from 2019 to 2021.
Press and Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Gallery: The best pictures of Caley Thistle's Scottish Cup final triumph over Falkirk in 2015
Caley Thistle lifted the Scottish Cup for the first and only time a decade ago – beating Falkirk with a pulsating late goal at sun-kissed Hampden. After knocking out Celtic in an extra-time thriller the month before at the national stadium in Glasgow, John Hughes guided the then Premiership Highlanders to glory against Peter Houston's Bairns from the Championship. Marley Watkins gave ICT the first half advantage when he latched on to a fine Aaron Doran pass to score. Falkirk, who Hughes had played for and managed, came roaring back in the second half, but Inverness were standing strong. However, full-back Carl Tremarco was sent off with 15 minutes to go for pulling down Blair Alston. Peter Grant – son of Celtic legend of the same name – headed Falkirk level with 10 minutes to go and it seemed like extra-time was again on the cards. However, a darting breakaway from Watkins led to his shot being spilled by goalkeeper Jamie McDonald and substitute James Vincent was on hand to tap the ball home for the famous victory. Inverness also finished third in the league that season behind Celtic and Aberdeen, qualifying for the Europa League where they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Romanian opponents Astra Giurgiu in July 2015.
Press and Journal
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Caley Thistle captain Danny Devine on 'dark times' club have avoided with League One survival
Captain Danny Devine thinks Caley Thistle avoided 'dark times' by winning their League One survival battle. The centre-half, who has agreed a two-year contract extension, is looking forward to the club coming out of administration – all going to plan – on June 5. And if head coach Scott Kellacher can build a competitive squad, there's no reason why the Highlanders cannot challenge for promotion back to the Championship next term – two years after being relegated from the second tier. They will, however, begin the new League One campaign on minus-five points due to the impact of their financial turmoil in the recently-concluded season. The situation, though, could have been far worse – had Inverness not successfully battled back from the 15-point penalty they incurred in 2024-25. Devine, who along with striker and assistant boss Billy Mckay and winger Luis Longstaff agreed deals last week, admits the prospects for ICT looked bleak heading for winter. Speaking on The Wyness Shuffle, he said: 'If you go down, you're in League Two and you're probably talking part-time football – where does the club go from there? 'There was a real danger of that happening, but we've come through the other end. 'If you are relegated from the Premiership into the Championship, I feel like it's not as severe as you can probably maintain your full-time status. 'It would have been dark times had it actually happened. There would have been a lot of changes at the club. 'I'm just grateful we managed to do it (stay up).' Devine, 32, also spoke about when administrators had to let the club's management and players go earlier in the season. Boss Duncan Ferguson, assistant Gary Bollan, goalkeeper coach Stuart Garden were all shown the door, as Kellacher moved into the hot-seat. Adams Brooks, Cameron Ferguson, Flynn Duffy, Wallace Duffy and on-loan goalkeeper Jack Newman were all released, with the squad waiting for news amid anxious times. He said: 'We didn't know who was going or staying. 'It was pretty brutal, to be honest, with boys just getting pulled right, left and centre then coming back into the changing room and, before you know it, they're out of a job. 'I really felt for those boys. I said at the time, we were the lucky ones – still with jobs and being able to go on the pitch and play football. We could still do what we love to do. 'We're just happy we were able to pay the club back.' Circumstances meant plenty of players aged 21 or under joining the Caley Thistle first-team group during the 2024-25 campaign. One of the remaining older heads, Devine thinks it was unfortunate, if necessary, for so much 'pressure' to be piled on the youngsters, and said: 'It was tough for the young boys. They needed time to develop in their own way and be in their own environment, mess about and do what young lads do. 'That pressure was put on them and that freedom was taken away from them. It was dire straits and we needed as many bodies as we could get at that point. 'We heard rumours of what might happen (in terms of administration) and then those rumours came into fruition. It was tough. 'Similar to Billy Mckay, I was one of the older ones. We tried to set the best example we could to those young lads and to instill that wee bit of professionalism in them. 'It was a case of 'results really matter now – it's not youth football anymore. If results don't go our way, certain things can happen and people can lose their jobs'. 'It was a different role (for us) – but it's one we handled well.'
Press and Journal
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Caley Thistle agree new deals with 11 players - including record scorer Billy Mckay
Caley Thistle have confirmed three key players – and eight youngsters – have agreed new deals with the League One club. Assistant boss and record scorer Billy Mckay signed a new contract for next season while captain Danny Devine, and winger Luis Longstaff have agreed two-year deals. The club are also in discussions over new deals with goalkeeper Musa Dibaga, defender Remi Savage, and midfielders Paul Allan and Charlie Gilmour. Eight players aged 21 or under have agreed contracts for at least next season as the club seeks to exit administration next Thursday. Signing one-year contracts are: goalkeeper Szymon Rebilas, 17, defenders Matthew Strachan, 19, Jack Walker, 19, Sam Nixon, 18, midfielders Robbie Thompson, 21, Shae Keogh, 18, and striker Sam Reid, 16. Midfielder Calum MacLeod, 18, has agreed a two-year deal. Midfielder Adam Mackinnon, 22, is also under contract for 2025-26. Mckay, who has scored 117 goals for ICT, has been assistant to Kellacher since Duncan Ferguson was sacked as boss amid administration kicking in last October. Three goals in the last three games last term helped keep Caley Thistle in League One and he is set to continue to combine coaching and playing roles. Mckay was relieved to have been part of a side which beat the drop from League One, despite the restrictions of administration and a 15-point deduction with ICT finishing in seventh position. Including loan stints, Mckay, 36, has played for ICT for eight years and will relish the chance to help the club target promotion back to the Championship in 2026. Skipper Devine, 32, who has served the club for almost nine years over two periods, signalled his intention to extend his stay towards the end of the season. Former Liverpool under-21 winger Longstaff, who has loan experience with Queen's Park and Cove Rangers, is the third senior player to pledge his future to the Highland side for another term. Hamstring and groin injuries hampered the 24-year-old to 31 appearances last season, but he was a key target for Kellacher to have on board beyond this summer. In an extensive squad update, ICT confirmed under-18 players James Clark, Ben Gardiner and Sam Thompson have all signed their first professional contracts with the club. The club also confirmed that 20-year-old striker Ethan Cairns will be released upon expiry of his current contract. Cairns has been with the club since he was nine years-old and signed for the club full-time in 2021. In total, Cairns made 22 appearances for ICTFC and scored once, but was limited by injuries last term. A club statement said: 'Everyone at ICTFC would like to thank Ethan for his contributions while at the club and wish him the very best in the future.' The same message was extended to the following loan players, who have returned to the parent clubs: Alfie Stewart and Alfie Bavidge (Aberdeen), Ben Brannan (Kilmarnock), Connall Ewan (Ross County), James Nolan (Manchester United) and Keith Bray (Dunfermline Athletic). Caley Thistle will be permitted to make offers to external players once the club is out of administration. Former chairman Alan Savage is confident his request for all shareholders to transfer their shares to him in order for his £800,000 offer for the club will be agreed before next Thursday's company voluntary arrangement (CVA) meeting of creditors. Savage this week told The Press and Journal that 95% of shareholders have do so and he's confident the 'last few' will follow suit.
Press and Journal
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Aberdeen's Alfie Bavidge on how Caley Thistle scoring legend Billy Mckay has made him better striker - as he gives update on season-ending injury
Aberdeen forward Alfie Bavidge has revealed how Caley Thistle legend Billy Mckay has improved him as a striker. The 19-year-old, who is working his way back from a season-ending hamstring injury, was on loan at League One side ICT as they won their League One survival battle – aided hugely by Bavidge's six goals in 10 outings. Bavidge, who switched from the Dons on a loan move in January after spending the first half of the campaign at Championship side Ayr United. A lack of game-time at Somerset Park led to the forward agreeing to join ICT – the club his dad Martin played for from 1998-2002. Bavidge was speaking in the latest just-released Wyness Shuffle podcast called the Survivor Series, and he explained how playing in attack alongside assistant manager and club record scorer, 117-goal Mckay, was a big attraction when considering his mid-term options. He said: 'Billy was one of the many things that made me want to come to Inverness. 'I see Billy as someone I have a similar play style to. 'It was really good to learn from him. He's played at the top level for many years. He's a legend at Inverness. 'Learning from him and watching him every day, including the little things, has really helped my game. 'A lot of my goals come from around six yards from the goal. Little aspects there can turn into goals, which turn into points come the end of the season. Billy was really good to learn from. 'The team have so many good players. I was pleasantly surprised by the standard of everyone – I didn't see much of a difference between Ayr and Inverness.' He added: 'Paul Allan assisted me for a few goals and I love the way he plays. 'He caught my eye with his passing and getting on the ball and his first touch was always really good.' Bavidge also praised former chairman, consultant and Inverness owner-in-waiting Alan Savage, as well as Caley Thistle boss Kellacher and his staff for making him feel at home as soon as he got to the Highlands. He said: 'Your environment is massive. When I moved to Ayr earlier in the season, it was my first time away from home. 'Thanks to the club and Alan Savage because the way I was treated off the pitch was amazing. It gave me every opportunity to perform on the pitch. 'Kells was really good with me – really supportive. 'He knew I had a tough time at Ayr and my confidence was a little bit low. He helped me build that confidence back up. 'It was sky high (at Inverness).' At the start of his loan stint, centre-forward Bavidge operated to the right of a front-line, but he explained why the job didn't faze him. He said: 'Last year, I was on loan at Kelty Hearts, and I was playing off the (right) side, so I knew the role quite well. 'In the system we played, it wasn't so much as a winger, it was like an inside forward – a striker who played ever so slightly wide. It wasn't too bad and it worked a treat. 'A lot of my goals were from coming in at the back post. 'It was still a striker's role. I was still in the box, sniffing about. 'I could get more freedom with the ball and more space to turn players instead of a lot of it being back to goal.' Three of his six ICT goals came in 1-0 wins against Queen of the South, Kelty Hearts and Dumbarton – accounting for six points alone. Kellacher's side – docked 15 points when administration kicked in last October – ultimately finished in seventh position – seven points above relegation play-off side Annan Athletic. Bavidge explained what scoring those vital goals meant for a club in peril. He said: 'Those were really big points. We had the goal to remain in the league next season and I was buzzing to help in any way I possibly could. 'Scoring is one my favourite things in the world. To do it in such big occasions was a brilliant feeling. 'There was a big task at hand (with administration) and it was almost a motivation for me. 'I wanted to be part of that team that helped Caley Thistle stay up. It was a positive for me and I wanted to come and help out.' Bavidge's red-hot run of form for the Caley Jags was cut short with his hamstring injury early in a 4-1 win over Stenhousemuir on March 11. There's a huge desire within the Inverness support to get Bavidge, and even his Dons club-mate Alfie Stewart, back from Aberdeen on loan next season. Bavidge has one year left on his Pittodrie deal and he hopes that his recovery can lead to a strong pre-season for the Premiership club. He added: 'I want to get fit and then back to playing football. I've just been resting and then been in the gym. 'I want to have a good pre-season and see where that takes me. 'I have recently been back on the pitch doing some really light stuff. It's coming along well.'
