Savage: ICT 'could've been in administration this week'

A former Caley Thistle chairman has outlined how the club could have been in administration this week if he hadn't stepped in.

Alan Savage has been drafted in to sort out the "dire" financial situation at Inverness and lead them onto new investment.

Speaking to MFR News, he outlined how although there is a lot of work to do, the club "can get through it."

ICT outlook changing "every hour"

Earlier this week, it was announced that Scot Gardiner had left his role as CEO.

This came after the club's relegation to the third tier of Scottish football and plans to move training to Fife were met with a furious backlash.

Ross Morrison then resigned as Chairman with Gardiner also tendering his resignation and was serving notice.

Speaking to us earlier today, Mr Savage outlined the current outlook of the club.

He said: "Every day or every hour things have changed as we try to do the forensics on where we're at.

"I love the club, I had two successful years as Chairman and I want to get it on a firm footing so it can be sold and eventually play in the Premiership."

"I wouldn't have been able to talk to the club this week I don't think if I hadn't intervened, because it would've been in administration.

"I'm pretty certain of that.

"I've got to meet the auditors next week.

"Assurances have to be given to the auditors that a company is a going concern if it's laden with debt that someone is going to pay that when it becomes due.

"Obviously, it has survived by assurances.

"If you read the 2023 accounts, the auditors let that go through I think because of the battery farm opportunity.

"We thought the concerts, which were a disaster, were going to rescue the finances of the club.

"It's in a very dire situation."

"We can get through it"

In interviews with STV and the Press and Journal, Savage outlined how he will do everything he can to save the club from administration, but shareholders must react.

Mr Savage told us how the club needs to find between £800,000 and £900,000 to get it on an even keel.

Although there's a lot of work to do, Mr Savage says they can turn things around.

He added: "We can get through it.

"When I've finished my mission, which is to put it on a firm foot, it'll have a quality management system, it'll have reporting structures, KPis (key performance indicators) and everything you would expect in a business, because it is a business.

Message to fans

With Caley Thistle currently sitting ninthin League 1 after two games, Mr Savage has also urged fans to come to ICT's home fixture this Saturday against Montrose.

"The important thing is I'll know a week tomorrow once and for all if I can keep the club going.

"Maybe come to the game on Saturday please, pay to come in, buy a raffle ticket etc.

"I think that's the way to do it.

"It's my duty to find out what's actually gone on and going on to put the club in good order."