The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Shearer: Sad way to go
Coach looks ahead after voicemail sacking
Ex-Caley Thistle under-20s coach Duncan Shearer is frustrated he was not given a face-to-face meeting to inform him his services were no longer required.
Former Caley Thistle under-20s coach Duncan Shearer is frustrated he was not given a face-toface meeting to inform him his services were no longer required.
Shearer was told through e-mail and a voicemail message from Inverness chairman Willie Finlayson on Thursday night that he was being dismissed by the Highlanders.
The decision follows Caley Jags’ decision not to enter a team into the Development League next season after Inverness’ relegation from the Premiership.
Shearer was in his second spell at Caley Jags, returning as a youth coach in 2008 after a spell in charge of Highland League side Buckie Thistle.
The Scotland international had previously played for Inverness, as well as assisting Steve Paterson between 2000 and 2002 before the pair moved on to Aberdeen, where Shearer had previously enjoyed success as a player.
Shearer was disappointed by the way his dismissal was handled by the club and he added: “I’m not too happy about the way it was done.
“I was away on a fishing trip to find a voicemail from the chairman telling me my services were no longer needed by the club.
“The number came up and I didn’t recognise it, so the voicemail came up.
“It would have been quite easy for them to say ‘call me back, I need to speak to you’ but he just went through the whole thing, thanking me for my efforts. I’ve been with Caley Thistle 10 years, on and off, so I probably deserved a face-toface meeting.
“If that’s the way they want to do it, there’s not a lot I can do about it. I just have to get on with it and I won’t dwell on it.” Fort William-born Shearer is hopeful of a return to football, adding: “I don’t know what the future holds. “I’ve already made inroads to getting a job outside of football, so I’ll just keep going.
“If the phone rings, it rings, if it doesn’t then it doesn’t.
“I’m never one to dwell on things like that.
“I still live quite a comfortable life. It’s not a massive issue but I would still like to get back into football straight away, because that’s what I’ve always known.
“There are various opportunities but we will wait and see what comes about.”
“Voicemail from the chairman telling me my services were no longer needed”