Next Friday the five-member working group — agreed by the council's Inverness City committee on Monday — plans to address issues related to over £49,000 of rental arrears since January 2004 owed to the city's Common Good Fund which owns and lease's out Clach's home at Grant Street Park.

A decision on whether to repossess the Merkinch ground was deferred for six weeks until 17th March.

But Clach chairman David Dowling will have to explain the situation again to councillors and council officials, including Inverness city manager David Haas whose report recommended the termination of the club's lease on the basis of non-payment of the £14,000 per year rent and called for an investigation into alternative uses of the site.

Fans called for Mr Dowling's resignation following Monday's meeting where councillors strongly criticised the club's management, harking back to the similar circumstances in 1990 which saw the club saved from liquidation at the 11th hour.

The cross-party working group will consist of Inverness provost and city committee chairman Bob Wynd (SNP), Donnie Kerr (SNP), Peter Corbett (Independent), Glynis Sinclair (Lib-Dem) and Jimmy Gray (Labour).

"I would imagine that we have all got the same agenda and that will be to see a way forward for the club to survive and also to take account of the mistakes that have been made by Clachnacuddin directors over the last several years with regard to not meeting their obligations," said Councillor Sinclair, who criticised Mr Dowling for the handling of the situation.

"I don't think there will be anybody wanting to not see Clach survive this crisis. But they are like cats, they seem to have nine lives with the number of problems they have had over the last few years."

The Culloden and Ardersier ward member admitted to being a fan of the club as she went to school in Merkinch and remembered it as the centre of the community. She also has family ties to the club's 120-year history with her brother Derek MacRae, cousin Lenny Thompson and great-uncle Eckie MacDougall all former players.

"I've got a strong Lilywhite streak running down my back so I feel I am going to do my damndest to try and see what we can do," Councillor Sinclair stated.

She urged more fans to go to home games and hoped Clach could show goodwill and try to generate income through fund-raising and promoting events because she stressed they would ultimately have to pay the debt. "It's a big mountain, but it's not insurmountable."

Clach pinned their financial survival on a potentially money-spinning all-weather pitch. A draft business plan has been drawn up with three contractors pricing the work at around £400,000. More than 10 funding sources have been identified and a grant application to sportscotland has been prepared.

andrew.dixon@inverness-courier.co.uk

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