Foran: Only Caley could lure me to early dugout debut
Richie Foran admits it would have been too early for him to start a managerial career at any other club.
But the fact it was Inverness who offered him his first job meant it was perfect timing.
The Irishman only retired from playing in the summer but was thrust into life as a gaffer when John Hughes left.
Foran insists he has no grand plan or lofty ambitions to be a boss at a higher level.
Because for now his only focus is on getting results for Caley that will propel them up the Premiership table.
As he prepared for today’s clash against Celtic, Foran said: “I felt I was ready for the job but only because it was this dressing room, this group of players.
“I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else. If any other club had come in for me it wouldn’t have been the right time. But because it was here I knew what we had and knew how the club worked.
“I know how Scottish football works and I have a good staff. That’s why it was the right job at the right time.
“I’m not ambitious at this point. I’ve no interest in looking beyond the next game for Inverness.
“I’m not thinking that one day I’ll manage in the Engl ish Premier League or anything like that. Just Inverness.
“I’m dedicated to the job, the club and the city.
“My family is from here now and I’m 100 per cent focused on the task here. It’s not about me, my style of play or trying to get my name bandied about the UK.
“It’s about winning games for Inverness.”
Foran can’t wait to pit his wits against Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers at the Caledonian Stadium today.
He didn’t even watch the Hoops’ 7- 0 defeat at the hands of Barcelona because it would have taught him nothing about Rodgers’ men.
The Caley boss said: “I’ve never met Brendan but it’s a great appointment for Celtic. It adds credibility to Celtic and to the whole of Scottish football.
“A long w i th Ma rk Warburton at Rangers, they are two top managers. They’ve given the whole game up here a lift.
“Celtic are f lying high. Forget what happened on Tuesday night, they were up against a different animal in Barcelona. Domestically they have huge confidence.
“This looks like the best Celtic team in many a year to me. But we’re at home and I’ll be setting up a team to win the game.
“We won’t sit back, we’ll try to attack because it’s our patch. We’re excited about the challenge.
“I didn’t watch the Barca game. They’re on a different planet and Celtic were always going to set up with a different system. I ’ d rather watch their away games in our own league.”