Former Inverness Caley Thistle captain Carl Tremarco backs management team of Scott Kellacher and Billy Mckay to take first step on club’s comeback story
Inverness Caledonian Thistle legend Carl Tremarco believes the only way is up for the club after the most challenging 12 months in their history.
Scottish Cup winner and former Caley Jags captain Tremarco has watched the drama unfold in the Highland capital from afar, having been assistant manager at Ross County in that time.
However, he was hurting as much as any other former player and supporter at watching Caley Thistle slip into administration last October, and have to battle back against a 15-point deduction in League One.
Now, with the off-field issues seemingly in the rear-view mirror, the comeback story can begin.
Tremarco will be watching with keen interest, and believes his former coach at the Caledonian Stadium Scott Kellacher, and his ex-teammate Billy Mckay, are the perfect duo to begin to scale the Scottish football pyramid once again.
“It’s been difficult to watch it from afar if I’m being honest,” he admitted.
“I went to the game when they got relegated down to League One, and it was tough to watch that and see the fans’ reaction.
“As soon as Kells and Billy took over, I genuinely believed that they would have enough to stay up with the 15-point deduction. There was a point where people were looking at the promotion play-offs, but make no mistake about it, the job that they did there to stay up was huge.
“The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter and brighter, and I have full confidence that they will push for the title next year.
“I’m excited for them this season, this could be the start of the comeback. They have hit rock bottom, and the only way is up.
“It’s not going to happen overnight, but with the right people at the club and everyone pulling in the right direction, it’s really pleasing to see.”
Tremarco was one of the more visible leaders during his playing days at Caley Thistle, but he says it did not surprise him at all to see Billy Mckay enter the coaching sphere.
Guided by Kellacher, who has a 26-year association with the Highland capital club, the vast majority of which has been spend coaching at various levels, Tremarco believes both men are just the right characters for the challenge facing ICT.
“You could see that Billy would go into coaching early on, because he’s football daft,” Tremarco added.
“He’s starting off on this journey himself, and I have been on this journey for the last couple of years and know how difficult it is, so if he needs anything he knows where I am. I think him and Kell will be a partnership that will do really well for Inverness.
“I’ve seen first hand how good of a coach Scott Kellacher is too, so I have no doubt he will get the team playing the way he wants.
“I think it’s just his persona and mannerisms – it’s hard not to get on with him. He was a first team coach when I was at Inverness, so he was a bit more relaxed and in and amongst the boys, and then when he became assistant manager, he was still in and amongst the boys if a bit more reserved.
“He’s the first to crack a joke, and if you were having a rubbish day he will do something to get you out of that mood. You need people like that at every club.
“He has been there for a long time, so he is the absolute rock that Caley Thistle needs. He has been a constant through everything, the highs and lows.
“In my opinion he probably should have got the manager’s job before he did, and I think he will be the first to say he should have pushed more for that, but now he’s in the hot seat. It’s pleasing to see. I’ve been there watching him and being coached by him, and I know exactly what he can do.”