Esson giving a rapid return his best shot
WINNERS on the day, anguished losers in the end. Just how these Inverness players are remembered by history depends entirely on what they do next.
Some will jump at better offers elsewhere. If Richie Foran’s mood of indignant disappointment remains, the manager will also show one or two the door with a swift kick up the backside.
But what about the guys who stick around? What does life as a footballer in the Championship hold?
Despite playing his part in 2015’s glorious Scottish Cup final triumph at Hampden, Caley Thistle keeper Ryan Esson retains even fonder memories of the club’s short stay in the second tier and insists it can be a much-needed shot in the arm.
‘When we won promotion the season after we were relegated in 2009, that was the best year I’ve had at the club,’ he insisted.
‘I know people will point to the Scottish Cup-winning season and getting into Europe — and there were two or three months that were unbelievable.
‘But the way we won promotion was incredible. We were 15 points behind, everyone wrote us off, and it was so special.
‘I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had so many good times at the club. But even for myself, performancewise, that was the best.
‘When you’ve been part of a team that ultimately failed, then you have a duty to do your best to make up for it.’
The air of determination expressed by many in the Inverness dressing room may not last, of course. Defiance is easily expressed in the heat of defeat, hard to sustain once a summer of rationalisation starts to kick in.
And there’s a reason why Inverness have gone straight down without even bothering the playoffs. They’re not a great team.
Sure, they scored three in a barmy four-minute second-half spell, Greg Tansey opening their account before Alex Fisher demonstrated his poaching skills.
By that stage of the afternoon, though, Hamilton had rendered their efforts, well, academical by putting Dundee to the sword. Conceding goals to Fir Park No2 James McFadden, in what seems his final playing appearance for Motherwell, and a late Ryan Bowman penalty made no difference.
Caley Thistle finished 12th because they weren’t good enough to finish 11th. Their end-of-season lap of honour, prompting a truly bizarre pitch invasion complete with ‘Sack the board’ chants, seemed entirely in keeping with the occasion.
Still, if Foran gets his wish to root out the ‘bad apples’ and retain a hard core of decent sorts, they’ll be expected to make a promotion charge in a division now looking more balanced without the presence of Hearts, Rangers and Hibs. Plus, possibly, Dundee United.
Esson, who now doubles as goalkeeping coach, declared: ‘It’s important to bounce back quickly — because you can get stuck in the Championship.
‘For the club and the city, we want to be in the Premiership — and we deserve to be there.’
Defending Foran from criticism, Esson added: ‘I’ve never made a mistake from the stand. I’ve never played a bad game from the stand.
‘It’s easy for people to sit and say Richie should have done this or that but he’s new to the job and learning.
‘I’m still learning my job and I’ve been doing it since I was ten. It’s never going to be easy.
‘He’s trying to find his way and a management style and that comes with doing the job for a while.
‘When I took over the coaching role, I thought it would be simple but it never is.
‘The gaffer is pretty honest. He will put his hand up. I’m sure he’ll learn from this season.
‘I don’t know what we will go with squad-wise but, hopefully, we keep it tight-knit. We’ve built up a good squad that’s been together for a good while.
‘We’re losing a couple of boys but also retaining those who will give us a chance of getting back up.’
Along with manager Foran, Esson is the only remaining Caley Thistle employee who was there for relegation in 2009 and the bounce back in 2010.
Recalling events of his greatest ever year, he said: ‘I remember we got to the Challenge Cup final and we were cruising 2-0 but lost 3-2. We were 15 points behind Dundee at that point.
‘We went to Partick Thistle and lost 2-1, and Maurice Malpas said after it: “You can go one of two ways boys — up or down”. And we never lost again from January onward.
‘The way we’ve finished this season will stand us in good stead going into the next season.’
Caley Thistle fans, so used to life in the top flight now, will certainly be looking for an instant bounce in the Championship following this most depressing of seasons.
Foran, if he’s still around to do the job, will surely demand nothing less.