Foran’s ‘bad apples’ jibe as ICT go down
TWO years can be a long time in football. Just ask Inverness Caledonian Thistle. In May 2015 they were on top of the world after winning the Scottish Cup and finishing third in the Premiership.
Today, they are licking their wounds after plummeting into the Championship, despite a final day victory over Motherwell.
For Richie Foran, whose first season in charge of the Highland capital side has been utterly unforgiving, it will be a bitter pill to swallow for years to come.
The Irishman admits he has made huge mistakes.
But despite his heartache, he insists he is the man to lead Inverness back to the Premiership.
“I want to be here next season. I’ll speak to the board on Monday or Tuesday,” said Foran.
“I was a big part of the problem in us getting relegated. I want to be a part of the solution. “The damage was done well before today. “It’s a huge, huge learning curve. “Would I have learned a lot if we’d finished in the top six, winning lots of games?
“Probably not, but I’ve learned a lot through this.
“I feel a huge sense of responsibility. I take it personally.
“I love the club, I love the city, it’s given me the best time of my life. It’s given me a wife and two kids.
“I want to build new foundations, build a squad I trust, not having to gamble on players.
“I probably gambled on too many this season.”
Pushed on the topic, he added: “I look forward to getting rid of two or three bad apples.
“I should’ve removed them in January because they weren’t giving 100% for the jersey.
“That was the mistake I made. They haven’t cared enough, it hasn’t meant enough to them. “If I’m here, I’ll be getting rid of them.” Foran’s passion certainly cannot be doubted.
Belatedly, he has translated it into results, with three wins from their last four fixtures.
But in the end, yesterday’s 3-2 win over Motherwell wasn’t enough to save them. Even 10-0 wouldn’t have done it. The Caley Jags’ failure this season wasn’t of the sudden variety – it was sustained and brutal.
They simply didn’t get going under Richie Foran until it was far too late. Yesterday was no different. Within 25 minutes, as news of Accies’ second goal filtered around the Caledonian Stadium, the life drained from the place.
A banner, draped forlornly in front of the Highland fans, seemed to sum it up. “Do we dare to dream?” it pondered.
By the time the departing Greg Tansey offered the punters hope by opening the scoring, Hamilton were 3-0 up and Inverness’s fate was out of their hands.
A quickfire Alex Fisher double added some worthless gloss to the scoreline before substitute James McFadden pulled one back for the Well with his first touch.
As the game petered out – and after Accies bagged their fourth – there was precious little sign of dissent amongst the crowd.
A group of youngsters behind the goal, presumably jacked up on Ribena and Skittles, performed a few meek choruses of “Sack the board”, but there were no adult takers.
Their team’s fate sealed, most simply sat stony-faced, waiting for the whistle.
They were given the dubious reward of witnessing Motherwell’s Ryan Bowman scoring from the spot in injury time.
Some of those Caley Jags fans – though not all – will be back next season to watch their side in a new league.
Another banner, raised aloft before kickoff, summed their mood up – “We’ll carry on through it all.”
Those in charge of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, now of the Championship, will desperately hope they keep their promise.