Inverness Caledonian Thistle want to know if they can offer current players new deals during administration - If not 75 per cent of their current squad could leave if a new buyer is not found
INVERNESS Caledonian Thistle are seeking clarification over whether they can offer new contracts to current players as they potentially face losing 75 per cent of their squad this summer.
Interim chief executive Charlie Christie said yesterday they will look to hold talks with regulatory bodies to see if they can offer current players contract extensions during administration.
Administrators BDO remain in talks to find a new buyer for the financially stricken League One outfit, with at least three parties showing interest in taking it over. But if they remain in administration by June and are not allowed to offer new deals, ICT will lose 75 per cent of their squad.
Inverness have been in administration since October, having wracked up debts of £3.8 million.
Christie says BDO have only told them that talks remain ongoing with interested parties but was unable to offer any further information on discussions.
He has confirmed that the club are looking to hold talks with the SFA and SPFL about being allowed to offer new contracts to players currently at the club.
He said: “We are trying to find out if offering new deals to current players is doable or not. Until we talk to the right people, we don’t know.
“We are seeking clarity from the regulating bodies.”
Christie said they are keen to hold talks with players about their futures as soon as possible in the best interests of everyone concerned.
He said: “We need to start talking to the players as the vast majority of the squad, three quarters, are out of contract in June.
“They are unemployed in 16 weeks’ time, it is not fair on them, they have mortgages and don’t have loads of money in the bank. The thought of trying to recruit 15-16 new players once the season ends fills me with dread. The amount of work that is involved negotiating with players can take up to five weeks.
“Six players have already intimated to head coach Scott Kellacher that they would like to stay and that is a huge thing.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle remain in the relegation zone with 10 games remaining after only drawing 1-1 with Montrose on Saturday. They are one point behind Annan Athletic in eighth place with a game in hand.
Christie says he is confident that Inverness will avoid the drop and remain in League One. He also believes if they remain full time once out of administration, they will be in a strong position for promotion next season.
He said: “Looking to next season, I think it is more possible than it was five months ago that we will be in Scottish League One which will allow us to stay full time.
“Coming back from part time is a long way back. If someone decides to buy the club and make it part time then they hold the cards.
“If we stay full time in League One, I would expect us to be in the top-three if not challenging for the title.
“Being full time in League One should give you an advantage, although not as much as I thought it would.”
Christie says if the club is taken over, he hopes that any contracts will include incentives to players to get the team playing at a higher level.
He said: “If we can come out of administration, my advice will be to sign players on incentivised two-year contracts.
“My wish in a perfect world is the club would be taken over by a consortium of three to six local businessmen.”
Read: Inverness Caledonian Thistle miss opportunity to move out of relegation zone.