Inverness City deserve our support

IT has been an eventful week in the Inverness football world.

First Terry Butcher began what amounts to a major overhaul of his Caley Thistle team, announcing that 10 members of the first team squad will not be offered new contracts for next season, including established stars such as former captain Grant Munro and long serving midfielder Russell Duncan. It represents something of a gamble after what has been a successful season. But Butcher has done enough in his time at the club to ensure supporters will back his vision, even if they are sorry to see some of their favourites depart. In that respect Wednesday night’s stirring victory over Celtic could not have been better timed, particularly as the winning goal was struck by youngster Shane Sutherland, one of the players Butcher hopes will be at the nucleus of his new side. On the other hand, a man-of-the-match performance by Munro emphasised that the manager is taking a risk, albeit a calculated one.

Also this week Inverness City scored another notable success by winning Junior football’s North Region Division One for the second successive year. But this is not a story that is sure to have a happy ending.

Last year they were denied promotion for not having their own ground, so this year they redoubled their efforts to find a permanent home and in February the council agreed to erect a fence around one of its pitches at Bught Park. But work has still not been started, much to the surprise of a visiting league official. To make matters worse, it has now emerged that changing rooms with showers are also required on the site to meet league rules.

A deadline of next month has been set by the league and while a fence may be erected in time, provision of changing rooms is a major project requiring planning permission and mains services. At best it is months away.

Ordinarily you might expect a compromise to be agreed, but throughout this saga Inverness City have been dogged by a lethargic local authority and a league unwilling to bend any rule to help the club. Not surprisingly founder, manager and driving force Stevie Graham is threatening to walk away if his side are denied promotion for a second year. If he does, that could be that.

This would be a terrible indictment. Inverness City are an asset to the Highland Capital — well run, successful with a desire to go far. They now have a thriving youth set up and have even taken Inverness’s women’s football team under their wing, giving it a new lease of life.

Time is running out and decisive action is required. The council must take the bull by the horns and fast track planning consent. A builder is required who can prioritise the work and guarantee it will be completed for the start of next season. And the league has to extend its deadline.

Perhaps Terry Butcher could intervene on the club’s behalf. After all, if they survive, Inverness City might provide future stars for his new look Caley Thistle.