Mark out to avert another cash crisis
MARK RIDGERS saw first- hand the devastation of Hearts’ financial collapse just over a decade ago – and is experiencing a sense of deja vu.
The Caley Thistle keeper was a young reserve at Tynecastle when the disastrous events of June 2013 sent his club freefalling into administration and then relegation to the Championship with a 15-point deduction.
Well-documented financial stress at Inverness has brought it all back but he knows at least their second tier status is salvageable.
After a scoreless draw at Montrose in the relegation play-off first leg, Caley Jags bring it home to where they’ve won only four league games this term.
Local lad Ridgers said: “How big a game is this? It’s massive. The manager has taken the pressure off us a little bit but we’re not daft. We know how big this is for the city and the club.
“There are a lot of good people at this club. If it goes wrong, they suffer as well, not just the players.
“My time at Hearts was difficult. We went into administration and the club was relegated.
“We saw people lose their jobs and, financially, there seems to be a similar situation brewing here.
“But as players, that is nothing to do with us. Our focus is keeping this club in the league and that’s what we have to do.”
Sean Dillon knows the odds are against Montrose.
He said: “Nobody will expect us to do anything apart from ourselves, it’s great we’re still in the tie.
“You always want to better yourself and so does the club. We’re desperately trying to do it and we’re in with a shout. It’s a one-off game now.”