Latest news with #Dibaga
Press and Journal
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Why Musa Dibaga has REJECTED Caley Thistle contract offer as stunned ICT react to decision
Musa Dibaga has 'with a heavy heart' rejected a new contract offer from Caley Thistle, The Press and Journal can reveal – with an English Premier League side and three other clubs keen for talks to sign the goalkeeper. Dibaga's decision has stunned ICT, who told us they are 'disappointed' and 'surprised' by his exit after he had indicated a desire to stay. The 25-year-old Spaniard was a shock smash hit for the financially-troubled Highlanders as they won their survival fight to stay in League One under Scott Kellacher last season. Dibaga – who was called into the Gambia international set-up for World Cup qualifiers this year thanks to his performances for Inverness – is currently recovering well from a grade three hamstring tear. While his agent Mark Agg-Jones told The Press and Journal in April the club's number one wanted to stay with Caley Thistle, he has now confirmed the parties were too far apart financially and Dibaga is looking for a new club. Dibaga's representative said: 'My duty, as an agent, goes to my client first and foremost, but I do wish Caley Thistle all the very best and I have huge sentiments for the club. 'I respect Scott Kellacher and the club tried (to offer the best deal), but they are working under such constraints that they can't get close to what I feel is fair. 'My position, as has been Musa's position, has always been about getting him 90 games by his 27th birthday – and we wanted to ideally to be at ICT. 'In recent months, we have two League Two clubs, one League One club and an English Premier League club south of the border seriously wanting to speak to us about Musa. 'We got to a point where a deadline was set at Inverness, but we're not any further forward. 'The last thing I want to do is risk Musa's wages – this time last year, he was not a professional footballer, now he is. 'It really is with a heavy heart that the decision is for Musa to look elsewhere. 'How can I advise him to sign a deal which isn't right when I have genuine interest that could actually put him to another level?' The agent admits it is a 'gamble' for his client to move on now, but added: 'Musa loves the Inverness fans and the club, but he doesn't want to procrastinate. 'The first three or four months of last season under Duncan Ferguson, (ex-assistant manager) Gary Bollan and (former keeper coach) Stuart Garden, he was fighting for that opportunity. He was really challenged. 'He rose to the challenge – he's worked to a level where he's now called up to the Gambian national team, and he wants to compete at the highest level that he can be at. 'He's 25, and we both have the same vision, which is that he gets a substantial number of professional-level games and has a really good track record, so that at 27, he has choices. 'I will still aim to do everything I can to help Inverness in the future, but the reality is we just couldn't make this one work. 'It is a gamble, and only time will tell whether we're making the wrong choice, but we're comfortable we're doing the right thing. 'Whatever happens, he will remain indebted to ICT, who gave him the chance to step up last season.' Former ICT manager Ferguson plucked Dibaga from Lowland League side Bo'ness United last summer as the squad faced a near wipe-out following relegation from the Championship. The shot-stopper – who had only previously played for East of Scotland outfit Whitehill Welfare – soon pushed Dundee United loanee Jack Newman out of the Caley Thistle starting 11. He became a fans' favourite in the Highlands, with 14 shut-outs in 32 appearances, and was a top target for boss Kellacher this summer as the club seek to exit administration next week. Former Inverness chairman Alan Savage hopes his £800,000 takeover offer for Caley Thistle gets the all-clear at next Thursday's rescheduled CVA meeting. Dibaga's agent suggested continued uncertainty at the club cast a shadow over the negotiations, saying: 'I can't say that the ongoing administration is not a concern. 'A successful season for ICT next season is to win League One and gain promotion as champions. 'They really have to be out of administration for that to happen. '(But) they are already due to start the season at minus-five points. If they are not out of administration, there could perhaps even be further restrictions or deductions.' Inverness interim chief executive Charlie Christie says keeper Dibaga's change of direction took them by surprise. He refuted suggestions their offer was not a fair one. Christie said: 'The coaching team and I are hugely disappointed that Musa and his agent have decided to reject what we thought was a very fair offer. 'Initially, we were led to believe he would sign and was happy to stay, so head coach Scott Kellacher was somewhat surprised when Musa's agent called him to say he was leaving. 'ICT gave Musa his first chance in professional football, gaining his first selection into the Gambia national squad in March – factors I had hoped would have led him to stay. 'We now move on and Scott has got one or two irons in the fire regarding the goalkeeping situation.' The League One outfit are awaiting contract responses from defender Remi Savage and midfielders Paul Allan and Charlie Gilmour, but agreed new deals with skipper Danny Devine, assistant boss and striker Billy Mckay and winger Luis Longstaff last week as well as eight players ages 21 or under. The club have confirmed that 18-year-old forward Ben Corner, has signed an initial short-term deal until January 2026. as he recovers from a knee operation from earlier this year.
Press and Journal
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
'English Premier League and Championship interest' in Caley Thistle's Musa Dibaga but goalkeeper could prolong Inverness stay
Goalkeeper Musa Dibaga could stay at Caley Thistle – despite interest stretching to the English Premier League and English Championship, according to his agent. The 25-year-old has been a revelation since being snapped up by ex-ICT manager Duncan Ferguson last August after leaving Bo'ness United in the Lowland League. Inverness were in turmoil following their relegation from the Championship last summer and needed someone to challenge Dundee United loanee Jack Newman, who had come in after the departure of Mark Ridgers. Ferguson, advised by assistant Gary Bollan and keeper coach Stuart Garden, granted a two-week trial to eager Dibaga, who was soon handed a one-year deal. And 14 clean sheets in 32 appearances for ICT showed the consistency which saw him called up for Gambia's recent World Cup qualifiers. Although he didn't feature, he's firmly in the Scorpions' plans. Inverness are in administration with owner-in-waiting Alan Savage waiting on approval from shareholders to accept his £800,000 offer. The club cannot enter talks with current players or transfer targets until they exit administration, which Savage hopes will happen imminently. Dibaga, named in the League One team of the season and the ICT fans' player of the year, faces three months on the sidelines due to a hamstring tear. And, speaking exclusively to The Press and Journal, Dibaga's agent Mark Agg-Jones – founder of agency firm AJ 100. – explained why he sees Inverness as the ideal fit for the goalkeeper should their off-field matters be resolved. He said: 'Musa and I have a joint vision – for him to have 90 league games under his belt at the age of 27. 'That's a picture that Scott Kellacher buys into. If he achieves those 90 games by then, the world is his oyster. 'He'll be an experienced goalkeeper, who has seen it and done it and, more importantly, done it under unique conditions. 'Very few professionals would have to navigate administration and the change of manager under the risk of your job – the whole shooting match within a very short period of time. 'This period has been absolutely key to his development. 'For us, if that future is at Inverness, that's great. I'm fully expecting the club to put a decent offer on the table as soon as they come out of administration. 'I don't want Musa to go to a big club where he won't play. We need Musa playing week in, week out. 'We want him to be a major part of any club he's at, and ideally that will be at Inverness. 'Hopefully Alan Savage will get administration out the way, keep the club trading, and he and the board can get the players looked after. If that happens, everything will be hunky-dory. 'It would be some story if the club can go for promotion to the Championship next season.' That 90-match goal for Dibaga is why, according to Bournemouth-based Agg-Jones, the chance to chase a big-money move to the highest divisions in England are not yet being entertained. He said: 'Musa's attracted interest from really high levels, including one club from the English Premier League, which is a real feather in his cap. 'There has been interest from the English Championship and well as other lower levels. 'But the last thing we want is Musa to be at a big club sitting on the bench. He doesn't want to do that. 'Does he want a flash in the pan career where he can cash in for a couple of years, or does he want a legacy? People to say 'remember how good Musa Dibaga was'. He wants that – that's so vital. 'He didn't think international football would ever be for him. He's so grateful for that opportunity. It's clear he will get more of that. 'International football was not on his agenda. He didn't know where his future would be a year ago.' On April 25, 2009, Bournemouth's 2-1 win over Grimsby Town kept the now Premier League side in the English Football League. And Agg-Jones said that brush with disaster for his chosen club, the Cherries, offers an extra lure for him to do what he can to assist troubled ICT, including arranging for three players to go on trial at ICT earlier this year. In March, Caley Jags head coach, chief executive Charlie Christie and the coaching staff ran the rule over Cumbernauld Colts goalkeeper Yan Gromov, right-back Diste Camara Sylla from Civil Service Strollers, and forward Malick Diakite from North West Counties League side Squires Gate. Agg-Jones added: 'Yes, I'm an agent and I have a duty to my clients, but that extends to the club. 'We're continuing to help the club, with a number of trialists going up there this year. Anything I can do with the limitations I have to help Inverness, I will do. 'I want to help as I believe Caley Thistle is a club that should aim to get back to the Scottish Premiership, and even aim for Europe again in years to come. 'It's close to my heart for a couple of reasons. 'One is because they gave our guys a chance, they were open to it. 'Secondly, my own club (Bournemouth) was in dire straits not so long ago. I was at the game with my dad where we were going to drop out of the Football League and the bucket was being passed around. 'Steve Fletcher got our scrappy goal and we got away with it. The rest is history. 'Incidentally, there is the link with Ryan Christie. I don't know Ryan personally, but I love watching him play. That link is self-evident between the two clubs. 'I'm looking every matchday for the results from Bournemouth and Inverness – the similarities are striking.'
