Fans investment initiative looks to give supporters greater say at Inverness Caledonian Thistle
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The organisers behind a new fan investment initiative to buy shares in Caley Thistle is confident it can lead to supporters having a bigger say at the club in the future.
The Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Trust have launched the Stronger Together Fund which aims to increase their shareholding of the football club.
It believes it will help assist in creating a sustainable football club with supporters at its heart.
The Supporters Trust, which is independent from the club, want to use income generated by the Stronger Together Fund to purchase shares in the club, with a view to gaining a seat on the board.
They believe that supporters’ issues can then be raised at board level, saying it will allow fans to be properly represented and have a say in the running of the club.
ICTST spokesman George Moodie say they want to follow other fan investment initiative models which has been implemented at other clubs.
He said: “We have seen through our close links with Supporters Direct that these initiatives can have a positive outcome for both the club and supporters.
“We want to be the architects of this. We have seen the difference it has made at other clubs.
“Morton raise £10,000 a month from a similar fan led initiative. Falkirk is at the stage of providing funding to sign players for their club and in return they have two seats on the club board.
“Foundation of Hearts is the ultimate template, but we are miles away from that.
“But we can get off to a good start, raise money to purchase shares from the club and we can make sure that the club can do well and all they can to bring in income of all sizes and that supporters feedback is heard at the highest levels of the club.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle have admitted themselves that they are facing challenging financial times.
In last year’s financial figures, the club made a loss of £835,751 for the year ending May 31, 2022. The club have yet to release the figures for the following year.
The club also applied to build a battery farm at Fairways which would have brought them £3.4 million.
However, the application was rejected at a full meeting of Highland Council in March, after previously receiving approval from the council’s South Planning Application Committee before the application was recalled.
Moodie say that fans feel disengaged with the club and moves must be made to reconnect Caley Thistle and fans.
He said: “It is fair to say these are the most challenging times the club has faced in its 30-year history.
“Fans say they have become disengaged and no longer feel a local affinity to the club.
“Despite this, fans want to provide assistance to the club and Caley Thistle fans don't want to see the club struggle.
“That is why we have launched the Stronger Together Fund.
“We are calling on fans to invest in the Stronger Together Fund, which aims to increase our shareholding of the club and create a sustainable football club with supporters at its heart.
“Our longer term goal of ensuring a democratically elected fan representative sits on the board is also key to our plan.
“The Trust aims to make sure the voice of ICT supporters is heard and that fans are communicated to with honesty and transparency.
“Investment in the football club by the Stronger Together Fund will be made at the discretion of the board.
“Our aim is to bridge the gap between the fans and club using any income to purchase shares at the club. We believe supporters issues can be raised at board level ensuring that fans are properly represented and have a say in running the club.”
