Inverness dream big after dark days as BBC to show Partick Thistle clash
Inverness Caledonian Thistle are embracing optimism as they prepare to host Partick Thistle on Friday in BBC Scotland's first live Championship match of the season, with manager Scott Kellacher welcoming high-profile praise for his side.
In fewer than 12 months the club have moved from being a Scottish League 1 side in administration to posing as potential contenders for promotion, a rise underlined when Scotland great James McFadden tipped them as one of the teams to watch during the BBC Scotland broadcast. Last season Inverness began life back at senior level under the shadow of a five-point penalty for entering administration but, after local businessman Alan Savage took control behind the scenes, Kellacher — assisted by Billy Mckay — led the team to the League 1 title. Their start to the Championship has included 0-0 draws with Dunfermline Athletic and Arbroath, while they had been 2-1 up at Tynecastle before succumbing to a 6-2 defeat against Hearts last weekend.
Some managers might resist the extra pressure that comes with high expectations, but Kellacher welcomed McFadden's endorsement and relished the attention ahead of Friday's televised fixture, saying: "I thought to myself, 'good on you, Faddy Boy!' I'll give him his due, he's a man that's always positive and I love it. "You want people to come to games and you want them to be excited. You want them to look forward to the game and it's not going to be boring this-and-that. "That's what you get with us. We want to be an entertaining, attacking-type team. Get you on the edge of your seat. "When Faddy said that, I thought 'that's a real nice comment'."
Kellacher also expressed strong gratitude for the role Alan Savage has played in stabilising the club and enabling the coaching staff to focus on football, stating: "I actually couldn't speak any higher of the man," and adding: "He's just got a special way about him in terms of how he goes about everything. "He allows me and Billy to get on with the job. We have a wee meeting once a week to make sure everything is all right, do we need anything? If so, what do we need, can we help? It's never any problems, it's solutions. "Everybody at the football club is so grateful for him coming in and giving everyone a new lease of life."
Kellacher warned that his side face a demanding test against a Partick Thistle team widely regarded as early division favourites under Mark Wilson, whose Glasgow Jags have won both their league matches so far without conceding. He noted Partick Thistle's recent form and their narrow 1-0 defeat away to Premiership side Hibs in the League Cup as measures of the challenge Inverness will meet on Friday.
Caley Thistle's 6-2 reverse at Tynecastle after leading 2-1 on Sunday is part of the recent evidence Kellacher referenced when urging supporters and players to remain ambitious despite the setbacks. He framed optimism as compatible with realism, encouraging belief within the club while stressing the need to remain grounded.
On whether the club could achieve successive promotions, Kellacher told players and fans to "be a dreamer" and referenced John McGlynn's achievements as inspiration, saying: "I said it to the players on Sunday, I say it to the fans - be a dreamer. Why not? What have you got to lose? "I was always impressed with John McGlynn's model, how he's managed to do it with the [Falkirk] squad he had. He managed to do it, which was incredible. "If we ever had the chance of doing that, I think it would be a phenomenal achievement from where we've come from and the dark days. "I'll never get carried away. I try and keep my feet on the ground. "But I say to the players, go and dream on doing something like that. Why not? What's stopping you from being the best you can be and be up there at the end of the season?"
Inverness will host Partick Thistle on Friday, with the match shown live on BBC Scotland as the broadcaster's opening Championship fixture of the campaign.
