Duncan Ferguson has been personally picking up the bill for Inverness players’ PETROL and other day to day costs, it’s been claimed.
Crisis-hit Caley Thistle are spiralling towards administration after last-ditch talks with businessman David Anderson failed to result in a deal. They have debts north of £3m and the club have exhausted all avenues to try and raise funds, including a Go Fund Me page – which aimed to raise £200,000 but only hit £85,000, which will now go towards the running of the League One club.
Boss Ferguson took a 40 per cent wage cut over the summer and recently admitted he hasn’t been taking a wage to help the Highland club through. But now Alasdair Fraser reports on X that he has even been picking up the tab for players’ petrol and other ‘basic costs’ – and for months.
Caley plan to enter administration next week and with that will likely lead to a hefty points deduction that will make survival in the third tier a challenge. They sit second bottom on just nine points from nine games even before any points are docked and tumbling into League Two, if they survive that long, is a realistic prospect.
We understand PFA (Scotland) have held talks with the Inverness players and warned them as to what to expect in the worst case scenario. It is likely to lead to job losses.
Speaking earlier this month, boss Ferguson, who was made the highest-paid manager in the club’s history when he was brought in last year, revealed he’s doing more than his bit to try and keep the club afloat. He said: “I’ve given up my wage to try and help the club. I’m now working for nothing. That’s by the by, it’s my own decision to try and help the club get through all this.
“The players are worried, yes. They have contracts to fall upon, but it is the people around about the stadium, the staff, everyone’s jobs are on the line. I think you know since I’ve been here I’ve taken cuts and reductions.
“Now, when I realised the position the club is in, in needing to raise £200,000 this month, I decided I don’t need to get paid my wage. I’ll work for nothing just now to try and help them through this. The plight of the staff was in my mind. It always is.
“I like to think I’m a caring person and I like to look after my staff and people around about me. At the moment, I’ll get through as best I can and try to keep putting petrol in my car and food on the table.”