Inverness Caley Thistle Supporters’ Trust say they are aware of £200,000 fans plan not to spend with the club in protest over leadership and move to Kelty
The Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters’ Trust say they have already been made aware of £200,000 that fans plan to withhold from the club.
At Tuesday night’s open meeting, many supporters were calling for a formal boycott, which the Supporters’ Trust could not endorse.
However, they did ask fans who planned not to renew their season tickets or contribute financially in any other way to Caley Thistle in protest over the club’s leadership, and decision to move first team training to Kelty, to make the Trust aware.
That, they said, would help to quantify the amount of money that ICT would be losing out on, and strengthen their case asking for change.
On Wednesday evening, the Supporters’ Trust opened a survey for fans to inform them of the amount of money they would not be spending on Caley Thistle ahead of next season.
As of 8am this morning, they say the total was already at around £200,000.
“What’s clear is that the feelings of the fan base haven’t reduced in any way,” Trust board member Robert Andrew said.
“Whilst the Supporters’ Trust is not endorsing calls to boycott season tickets, because we recognise that the club needs money at this time, we have asked members and the wider fanbase to let us know what value they will not be putting into the club next season if they choose not to renew their season tickets.
“As of 8am this morning, that sum is very close to £200,000, of which £128,000 is people saying they will not renew their season tickets.
“That survey only opened on Wednesday evening, so that shows the strength of feeling about the leadership of the club and the direction that the club has been taken, and the decision to move first team training down to Kelty.
“A large proportion of, in many cases, long-standing fans are saying that they won’t renew their season tickets unless there is change.
“The rest is merchandise, player sponsorship and advertising boards, possibly buying hospitality over the course of the season over and above what they would spend on a season ticket."
Caley Jags chairman Ross Morrison has previously said that a season ticket boycott would result in the club going bust.
However, supporters believe that withholding money is the only way to enact the change they desire.
Whether the sum that Inverness already seem to be losing will be enough to convince decision makers to change course, though, is unclear.
“That remains to be seen,” Andrew admitted.
“That decision will be dependent on conclusions other people draw about what is going on at present, what they are seeing happen and what the feeling of the fans are.
“We are just doing what we can to make sure that fans’ voices are heard and understood, and trying to quantify what the financial implications are for the club of the individual decisions fans are making.
“The first game is about six weeks away, so the club needs to get players in. An awful lot needs to happen over the next few weeks to make sure we hit the ground running, because the last thing anyone wants is a slow start.”