Duncan Ferguson fears points deduction due to administration would mean Inverness Caley Thistle retained ‘almost certain’

On October 11, 2024By Yukito

Duncan Ferguson believes a 15-point deduction resulting from an administrative decision will make relegation from Inverness Caledonian Thistle all but certain this season.

Caley Jags are currently second in the League One table with nine points from their first nine games, but an administrators’ appointment penalty will see them drop to the bottom of the table with -6 points.

They would then be 12 points behind Dumbarton and further away from avoiding the relegation play-off at the end of the season.

Promising that they will do everything in their power to avoid relegation if administration becomes a reality next week, Ferguson admitted that staying in the third tier would be – at best – a difficult task for them.

Duncan Ferguson has already tasted relegation as manager of Caley Thistle, losing the Championship play-off final to Hamilton last season. Photo: Callum Mackay

If we get a 15-point deduction, we won’t be able to stay in the league unless we win every game and someone else loses every game,” he reasoned.

“It would be an almost impossible task. We would try to deal with it and do everything we can to win games, but if the administrator comes and dismisses the squad, I think it will be really difficult to stay in the league.

“A 15-point division would almost certainly result in relegation.”

On the pitch, Ferguson felt Caley Thistle’s performance last weekend against Arbroath was Caley Thistle’s best performance of the season so far.

Off the pitch, however, he says the current ICT landscape is one of the most challenging times in his career so far.

“Last Saturday’s result made it even better because we could have played a lot better in the league,” he continued.

“The results weren’t in our favor and we ended up sliding to the bottom of the league when we could have been close to the top – that’s what our performance (against Arbroath) deserved.

“It was difficult for me, but also for the players.

“It’s just a difficult time in the club’s history but I hope we can avoid administration because that would mean avoiding a 15-point deduction.

“It would give us a much better chance of staying in this league.”

Ahead of this weekend’s trip to Livingston for the SPFL Trust Trophy, Ferguson lost the services of on-loan Dundee striker Charlie Reilly with a hamstring injury.

Keith Bray, however, could be ready to make his first appearance since August after returning to the squad last Saturday following illness.

There is also positive news regarding the recovery of Flynn Duffy, who suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs in a match against Queen of the South on August 31.

“Charlie Reilly suffered a minor hamstring injury,” Ferguson revealed.

“We only brought him in from Dundee last week. He will have a test done and then we will see how bad it is. Charlie’s absence would be a big blow to us.

“Flynn Duffy is still recovering from a punctured lung. He returns to training.

“Keith was a bit sick but he will start on Saturday. One day he played in a match against Forres, which we won 7-4 behind closed doors.

“Keith played 70 minutes, scored a goal and hit the crossbar. He’ll probably start playing on the weekend.”

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