Inverness Caley Thistle fans bite back at Duncan Ferguson, the ex-Dundee United, Glasgow Rangers, Everton ands Newcastle United hero, after criticisms voiced in his new autobiography ‘Big Dunc’
Football legend Duncan Ferguson’s scathing criticisms of Caley Thistle’s support have provoked a mighty backlash on social media.
With the former Inverness manager’s new autobiography ‘Big Dunc’ only just on the shelves, we summarised some of his reflections on a stormy 13 months at the Caledonian Stadium.
Read the article HERE for a fuller understanding of what Ferguson said, but he labelled a minority of the Inverness support “problematic” after turning on him and the players after certain matches.
He also branded them a “disgrace” for “sickening” abuse aimed at his son Cameron after he signed for the club.
Ferguson defended his much-maligned style of play and suggested the support wanted “caber throwers” and long balls.
Ferguson, as an on-field firebrand and ferocious competitor not to mention an ex-Barlinnie inmate, never shirked confrontation.
He has certainly provoked some in the Highlands over the last 24 hours, clearly touching a nerve despite tempering criticisms with some praise and positivity for the fans.
Idolised at Everton, it is fair to say the Scot left the Highlands with rather less adulation than at previous clubs.
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That was hardly surprising given Ferguson held a percentage win rate of 29.3, the second lowest in ICT history only to Richie Foran’s relegation season in the Premiership.
Kicking off in response to the “disgrace” comment, Drew Maclean wrote: “No, you were the disgrace, calling yourself a football manager
Liam Macleod chipped in: “Well, we branded his football tactics and management a disgrace.”
Lynne Macdonald was short and sweet, adding: “We are well rid.”
Jonny Campbell said: “Blaming the fans for your own failure as a manager. The stats speak for themselves. Dunc the dud. I think I'll save myself £22.”
Sandy Sutherland could barely contain his fury, claiming: “Blames everything but his turgid brand of football and his spaff signings. Delusional muppet. Getting shot of him was the best thing to happen to our team this season. Must needle him knowing [Scott Kellacher] who sat behind him in the dugout did everything better than he ever could. Hail Kells.”
Haydn Heng noted: “He said on October 10 that we were going down with the 15-point deduction … we managed to survive comfortably. He is the worst manager in our club history.”
Chris Andrew was one of a number who took a more measured approach: “You are always going to get heat from the fans if you’re not getting the results. As a Caley fan I'll take that swipe on the chin .... I liked him as a person, but his style didn't fit at Caley. What Scotty Kellacher has done with the same players, speaks volumes.”
Stefan Slavovski doesn’t rate Ferguson’s chances of proving the doubters wrong: “I really liked him as player, especially with the Toffees (Everton), but as a manager … it was a torture going to the stadium and watching his helpless style of football. He worked together with some top managers at Goodison but obviously this isn’t his future. The sooner he understands it the better.”
Ewan Beattie reminded fellow supporters of the backdrop to Ferguson’s difficult tenure, saying: “Both the fans and Big Dunc were the victims of a poorly run club … I think his intentions were the best they could have been, however he got it so badly wrong … in terms of the fans, is he maybe one of the few managers out there that is willing to speak up? Even Billy Dods got the same treatment in terms of a barrage of personal abuse from the stands at Dens Park merely three months before taking the club to Scottish Cup final.”
David Cullen concurred: “A lot of the so-called ‘fans’ behaviour to Dunc was totally unacceptable.”
Charles Bannerman said: “Duncan Ferguson was a very nice guy who was manoeuvred by (ex-CEO) Scot Gardiner, who very publicly took the credit for the appointment, into a job where he was unable to deliver.
“I often wonder what he thought when he arrived and discovered what (as it was at the time, but no longer) was a toxic cesspit.
“Fans inevitably get grumpy when things don’t go well on the field, but this was a fan base already hugely frustrated and antagonised by the manner in which the club was being run.
“As a result, the reaction Duncan got was a lot worse than simply a reaction to team performance.”
And Nick Mahlitz contended: “ICT fans need to consider what he did for the club as a manager. He had their best interests at heart and paid for stuff that the club couldn't. What a shame. Poor Dunc seems a victim here, to some degree. While not getting the tactics right he got a lot of other things right.”
And, finally, there was a suspicion that Liam Young’s local allegiances were not of the red, blue and black variety.
He added: “There are more comments on here slagging him off than there are fans at any given Caley game. Good job the Highlands is at least represented by one real club and Dingwall isn't too far to travel from Inverness.”
