Manager John Robertson says Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Raith Rovers joint Challenge Cup winners
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson has been left questioning where last season’s Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Challenge Cup can fit into the club’s schedule.
The competition will not be played as part of the 2020/21 campaign, but there is the final outstanding from the 2019/20 season.
ICT beat Rangers Colts in the semi final last February to earn a chance of winning silverware against Raith Rovers, who have since been promoted to the second tier.
The Scottish Cup was in a similar competition, but the 2020 final finally went ahead in December.
Five members of the Inverness starting 11 in the semi final have now moved on, and with an intense schedule as it is, Robertson believes it may be time to cut their losses.
“If you look at it right now we have six matches that we have to catch up on,” Robertson reasoned.
“We have Arbroath, Morton, Queen of the South and Raith Rovers in the league, Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup, and then we’ve got a Challenge Cup final to fit in as well.
“I don’t understand why we’re still hanging on to that one.
“For me, that should now be declared as joint-winners, and they should send 20 winners’ medals to both clubs.
“I don’t know where they expect us to squeeze that in as well, based on the number of games we’ve got to catch up on.
“Another year and another season has passed, and you’re wondering what the point is.”
It was confirmed over the weekend that three of those previously postponed Championship matches have been rescheduled for the coming weeks.
Caley Thistle will now travel to Morton on Wednesday, January 27 and Arbroath on Wednesday, February 2.
Meanwhile the entire league programme that was wiped out last Tuesday has been moved to Saturday, January 30, originally set aside for the Scottish Cup.
It is circumstances out of ICT’s control, but Robertson insists there will be no complaints, and they will just get their heads down and play.
“There seems to be a big rush to get fixtures played, but we’ll deal with it,” Robertson added.
“We have no real influence on away games that were cancelled, it is usually the home team’s preference. We can only influence the home games and there has only been one of those.
“It’s not as if it’s our fault because we have a dodgy pitch, as we have had in the past.”
