Inverness City's future under threat

Ross Thomson scores for Inverness City at Grant Street Park

HIGHLAND Council’s failure to establish a permanent home ground for Inverness City could result in the newly-crowned champions suffering expulsion from the Scottish Junior Football League.

City councillors agreed in principle three months ago to the creation of a pitch suitable for the club at Bught Park — but that has not yet happened.

Uncertainty could lead to the league’s North Region branch dismissing the successful club at this Sunday’s annual general meeting.

"It’s definitely an option, but I would like to think it is far down the list," said league secretary Tom Johnston, who visited Inverness on Wednesday.

"But when it goes to the North Region, goodness knows what could happen.

"Hopefully there are a lot of sensible people there who appreciate what Inverness has brought to the party, so I would hope that denying them promotion would be the worst case scenario."

Ground has been identified for the club but no fencing has been erected and appropriate changing rooms are also needed after plans to use facilities are Bught Stadium and Inverness Leisure were rejected.

A portable building has been suggested but this option would have to be approved by councillors.

"It was a major step forward in February but we are now in May and it seems to have stalled since then," Mr Johnston added.

North Region secretary Jack Whitehead refused to discuss the possibilities in detail but admitted City’s promotion to the North Superleague could be a talking point.

City were denied promotion last season because it did not have a fixed venue to host its games.

David Haas is willing to provide assurances of Highland Council's commitment

The council’s city manager David Haas was willing to provide written assurances to North Region officials that work was being undertaken and stressed the local authority was doing its best.

"We are looking for a bit of cooperation from the league and a bit of forbearance because we can’t just magic up a facility," he said.

He admitted he would be absolutely horrified if the club was punished excessively.

"I can’t see how that could be properly justified on the basis that there has been so much effort put in by the club and the council to find a solution," he added.

City have won silverware on a regular basis since being established in 2006 but have never had a fixed home ground, with games regularly staged at Northern Meeting Park and Grant Street Park.