Relegated Arbroath want Caley Thistle boss to retract ‘disappointing’ comments of downing tools
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ARBROATH have asked Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson to retract his comments he made about them downing tools after being relegated from the Scottish Championship.
The Red Lichties say they are disappointed over comments Ferguson made this week that Arbroath “looked they are no longer trying” after officially finishing bottom of the table and will drop down to League One next season.
After Arbroath lost 2-1 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle earlier this month, Arbroath fell 12 points adrift at the bottom with four games remaining.
Due to a vastly inferior goal difference to Inverness, Arbroath were practically relegated after their defeat at the Caledonian Stadium.
Arbroath were officially relegated last weekend when they were hammered 5-0 by Ayr United. It was that result which led to Ferguson’s reaction at Wednesday’s press conference in Inverness.
With Arbroath still to play Caley Thistle’s relegation rivals Queen’s Park and Greenock Morton in their final three games, Ferguson feared Arbroath had downed tools and would give an advantage to those teams.
In the press conference, Ferguson said: “We feel Arbroath have, so to speak, downed tools and won't pick up any more points which will cost us in the run-in.
“When I said we needed three wins, I didn’t realise two teams around about us still had to play Arbroath. If those teams had to play someone else, I’d be more confident.
"You can see by Arbroath's result last week against Ayr United where their heads are at. That edge has gone now.“It is just our luck, isn’t it? We had Arbroath up here when they were fighting for their lives, and we probably relegated them.
“Teams around about us are playing Arbroath and we’re putting three points on those teams’ tallies because we don’t think Arbroath are going to try a leg from now until the end of the season.
“It doesn’t look like they are trying for their club or manager – hopefully I am wrong on that. We are expecting that Arbroath won't win another point, which will cost us in the league, so we need at least two more wins to keep ourselves in this division.
“That starts on Friday.”
Arbroath released a statement tonight saying they were disappointed over Ferguson’s comments, questioning their players’ professionalism.
The club said they have received an apology from senior officials at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but await Ferguson to retract his comments.
Arbroath’s statement read: Arbroath Football Club are extremely disappointed to learn of Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson’s recent press comments, questioning our players professionalism in the final stages of this season’s SPFL Cinch Championship
Whilst we understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, it’s concerning that a fellow members club representative, would publicly call into question the sporting integrity of our players attitude, and feel this to be extremely disrespectful and damaging to both Arbroath FC and the Scottish game as a whole.
“We pride ourselves on the professionalism of our staff at all times and are disappointed to be making this statement. We have been contacted by senior officials from ICT, and their apology has been accepted as both clubs have always maintained a good relationship.
“But we await Mr Ferguson’s retraction of said comments prior, bringing this incident to a conclusion.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle moved out of the relegation play-off zone last week when they defeated Queen’s Park 1-0 at Hampden.
They return to action on Friday night when they take on Raith Rovers at the Caledonian Stadium.
