Yesterday, officials from the Merkinch side were given 42 days to work with Highland councillors in an attempt to secure the future of the football club.

With Clach owing rent arrears of more than £49,000 dating back to January 2004 to the Inverness Common Good Fund — owners of its home ground, Grant Street Park — council officials had recommended terminating the lease. But Inverness city committee deferred the decision until 17th March and has set up a temporary five-member working group to discuss the way forward with Clach officials.

Afterwards, Billy Corbett, who was part of Clach's rescue team which saved the club from liquidation in 1990, thanked councillors for the reprieve but felt changes at the club were badly needed. "I'm a shareholder but all this information about rent has been kept from us for the last three or four years," he said. "So I think the chairman should stand down and stand down now."

Councillors were told that although the club had produced a business plan for a potential money-spinning all-weather pitch, it was submitted at the 11th hour and was not enough to alter official advice.

The club's former captain, manager, director and secretary, Councillor Peter Corbett (Inverness Central), said Clach and Grant Street Park had a home in Inverness but felt the club had taken advantage of having the Common Good Fund as its landlord.

"The rent stopped without any notification and it's completely irresponsible management," he said. "In 1989, the previous board was accused of incompetence and negligence and this is déjà vu."

Inverness Provost Bob Wynd felt the lease had to be terminated with a clause allowing the club to rent the ground on match days at least until the end of the current season. Councillor Bet McAllister (Inverness Central) called for any decision to be deferred until the summer to allow time for a consortium to be set up to save the club again.

Councillor Jim Crawford (Inverness South) suggested the current ground rent of £14,000 per year should be reduced to a maximum of £500 and Clach should be asked to pay back a nominal amount of debt over several years while, with council assistance, expanding to become a feeder club for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Mr Dowling, who has been chairman for 18 years, conceded it was an unsettling period for the club's footballers but hoped they could see out the season. He was disappointed to be prohibited from addressing any queries at the meeting.

"I've never met with the councillors before and never had the opportunity to present anything to them," declared Mr Dowling who added he would consider welcoming an investor with available funds if it meant Clach had a future.

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