£5 million-plus cash windfall for Caley Thistle – if they can beat Ange Postecoglou's Celtic at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup final
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Creating one of Scottish football’s greatest ever shocks on Saturday would guarantee Caley Thistle an eye-watering £5 million windfall.
That would be the “game-changing” minimum sum earned by the club should Billy Dodds’ men achieve immortality, as chief executive Scot Gardiner put it, by humbling treble-chasing Celtic.
Mr Gardiner, fully aware of the scale of the task facing the massive pre-match underdogs, knows that beyond the Caledonian Stadium few will be giving the Championship outfit even a faint whisker of a chance.
But at a sun-bathed Hampden Park, the Caley Jags’ heroes will look to ‘go ballistic’ all over again and, arguably, eclipse the giant-killing acts of Berwick Rangers against Rangers in 1967, themselves at Celtic Park in 2000, and Darvel against Aberdeen in January.
If they achieve the unthinkable, Mr Gardiner insists it will be all about the glory – not the cash.
But the club CEO did give an insight into the transformative riches that would await if they beat a Celtic side with 60 times their wage bill.
Simply reaching the final is believed to have guaranteed a low seven-figure windfall.
Mr Gardiner would not confirm the sum, but admitted: “Beating Celtic and qualifying for European football, that would be a game-changer.
“Qualification for Europe brings a guaranteed minimum of €4 million (almost £3.5 million) before you even sell a match ticket or broadcasting rights.
“We would play a two-leg Europa League qualifier with the winners gaining six Europa League group stage matches and the losers dropping into the European Conference League for six group games.
“Celtic, if they win, are in the Champions League in any case. If we win, it's a life-changing number for us.
“We all know just how incredibly difficult it will be, but we have two more sleeps to dream about it.”
Mr Gardiner, a former Tottenham Hotspur employee, evoked the London club’s great Danny Blanchflower’s famous quote on football being “all about the glory”.
He said: “Everyone asks ‘what about the money?’ forgetting that, if they win, these players will be immortal. The money is just a bonus.”
After controversy over high ticket prices and cup final timings, the Caledonian Stadium has finally been crackling with cup final colour and atmosphere over the last few days.
“At first there was such a lot of negativity surrounding the evening kick-off time,” the CEO said. “But in the last seven days, it has built into that proper cup final buzz with excited families and little kids running about in bucket hats.
“The stadium is bouncing. I’ve never heard such a racket from the players, not least their dressing room karaoke and we’re starting to see it around the town.”
From 9am tomorrow, Inverness Town House will fly the Caley Thistle cup final flag, while Ness Bridge will be lit up in club colours.
Ticket sales stood at just over 6000 as of yesterday, with Celtic taking back 2500 of Caley Jags’ original 10,000 share.
ScotRail, Citylink and Megabus have laid on extra capacity for supporters heading south.
Meanwhile, approaching 600 of 700 £4 tickets have sold for a pre-match fans’ party on the Clyde, with live music from Schiehallion, from 11am-4pm at The Renfrew Ferry venue.
One of the organisers, Stevie Reilly of the Wyness Shuffle ICT podcast, said: “We are seeing a last-minute rush for our party tickets. We will still hopefully sell out.
“We've secured another bus, but seats left are limited so if fans want a bus ticket please get in there and book early.
"Having a venue for all ICT fans is a great opportunity to see friends and celebrate our club getting to a national final.
“No matter how young or old they are, I hope all ICT fans enjoy a great Highland fling.
“And fingers crossed, our boys can provide one of the biggest cup shocks in Scottish football history again.”
Meanwhile, the Imperial Bar in Inverness city centre is raising cash for the Alzheimer's Scotland charity by offering customers a special Scottish Cup sweepstake with the backing of Caley Thistle board member Graeme Bennett.
General manager Moira Ewen a pre-match pie and a pint offer, along with bacon rolls for the early birds.
The sweepstake will be for first goal and first red or yellow card.
Ms Ewen said: "It would be fantastic if ICT can win. What an achievement it would be for the club and what a source of pride for the city."
