Inverness Caledonian Thistle disappointed with maximum limit of 300 fans
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle have admitted they were disappointed that crowds will be limited to 300 people for the foreseeable future
Chief executive Scot Gardiner had been watching with great interest as Ross County attempted to get permission to welcome supporters back to the Global Energy Stadium tonight, with the green light eventually being given on Wednesday evening.
Fans are only able to return at all because the Highlands are in Tier One of the Scottish Government’s strategy to tackle Covid-19, but after test events for the same number of 300 people were successful in September, Gardiner had hoped for more.
Inverness are working on the hope that supporters will return to the Caledonian Stadium for their Scottish Championship fixture against Raith Rovers on Saturday, November 21.
“I won’t tell a fib – we were disappointed,” Gardiner said.
“We’re happy to get crowds in, but the clubs who have already done test events have proven it can be done.
“I think all of us were expecting it might be slightly more and that’s what we were working towards.
“You see what’s happening in cinemas and other parts of the entertainment world, which after all we are, they have had 25-27 per cent of their capacity indoors.
“I know there are issues brought up about people travelling on public transport, but I don’t think that applies for us, County or Elgin, although I won’t speak for either of those clubs.
“No public transport comes to the Caledonian Stadium and there will be no away supporters – it is going to be very local to us.
“At the moment we’ve got to be grateful for small mercies, because it is March 10 since we last had fans through the gates.”
Gardiner has been talking to other clubs and Scottish Rugby to prepare for fans.
With lower than expected numbers and travel restrictions in place with the five-tier system, ICT will be incorporating postcodes into their ballot to decide which season ticket holders get to see their side in person.
Gardiner does not expect any change if Ross County’s test tonight is successful, meaning ICT will not bring in the cash they hoped.
“I can only speak for Caley Thistle and having virtually no supporters and virtually no revenue between now and whenever, it is desperate – we can’t portray it any other way,” Gardiner added.
“It’s very difficult for everyone in Scottish football. When you see what is happening in England it is particularly galling, with the National League’s 66 clubs receiving £20 million.
“The two biggest clubs in the National League have crowds comparable to our usual attendances. York City is probably the biggest, between 2000 and 3500.
“I cannot for the life of me understand what’s happening up here and why we’re effectively hanging in the wind here as an industry when we’re putting on our games at full operation.”
