ICT manager admits he's struggled mentally during COVID-19 pandemic

Inverness manager John Robertson has opened up on his own battle with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ICT boss says similar to the players, it has been very difficult not seeing some family members for almost a year.

Earlier this week, the SFA announced a three week suspension for all levels of Scottish Football beneath the Championship, including the Scottish Cup and all of women's football.

As the players will now undergo weekly compulsory coronavirus testing, Robertson says it's all been taking a toll.

He said: "This has been without doubt the hardest year to manage.

"There’s a million and one things that as a manager you deal with, throw in a pandemic that’s killing people’s lives, it’s very difficult.

"We’ve had players up here who haven’t seen their families for 10 months, I haven’t seen my own children for 10 months.

"The hardest thing for me at times, is finding someone myself to talk to about it. Who manages the manager?

"I’m sure it’s the same the length and breadth of the country.

"We’re fortunate here that we’ve got a very tight group, we talk to each other, we interact with each other and that’s important.

" The players chatted to each other when they felt down, talked about why did they felt down, what lifted them out of it or what made them go into it in the first place.

"We’ve had regular meetings like that with the players all throughout the summer.

"All you can do as a manager is keep talking to them."

Caley Thistle's game away to Raith Rovers tomorrow has been postponed.

The SPFL confirmed the game is off following a COVID-19 outbreak among the Kirkcaldy club's playing and backroom staff.