Charlie Christie: Caley Thistle boss deserves credit for great start in charge
After our fantastic injury time win last Saturday at Montrose, the good vibes kept flowing this week at Caledonian Stadium with the announcement that head coach Scott Kellacher had won the League One manager of the month award for November.
Scott was quick to direct any praise to his coaching staff and players and it’s been really pleasing to see the togetherness that is fostering in the changing room– very much a mainstay of our club in so many of our successful periods.
In this very challenging time of administration, Scott, Ross Jack, Gordy Nicolson and Billy Mackay have stepped up to the mark when needed most and yet another former player has added his experience and coaching qualities to help the club in these trying times.
Our former goalkeeper Mike Fraser has come into to assist his long-term friend Scott and help in any way he can, and we are hugely thankful for this gesture. In my time as manager at ICT, Mike was an integral part of my first team squad and I gave him his first team debut at the club as a reward for his patience. At the time, Mike mainly played second fiddle to Mark Brown but was very popular with his teammates and his attitude to training was always first class.
It is still early days as we try to climb the league table, but I find it hugely rewarding to witness the ‘feel good’ factor that this group of experienced and knowledgeable individuals are re-introducing to the club – something that is also being acknowledged by our loyal fan base.
ICT weren’t the only team that managed to grab victory from the jaws of defeat last weekend. I was delighted on Sunday that son Ryan’s club Bournemouth scored twice in the last few minutes of their game at Ipswich to gain a hard-earned win.
It was a third win on the trot for ‘The Cherries’ propelling them to eighth in the Premier League above Tottenham, Manchester United and Newcastle and they really do look a match for anyone. I telephoned Ryan to congratulate him on the win and I had a laugh with him on the phone as he told me of the fantastic atmosphere on the Bournemouth team bus on the way to Ipswich.
As the players were relaxing on the journey to Ipswich after training earlier that day the results started coming through around 5pm. Ryan said the bus erupted when the Caley Thistle result was announced with the whole first team squad clapping in support of Ryan’s former club. It’s always nice to hear we have fans far and wide as we garner all the support we can get!
