Inverness Caledonian Thistle head coach Scott Kellacher already looking to next season as he plots promotion back to the Championship after guiding team to safety in League One
HEAD coach Scott Kellacher says the hard work for next season starts now as Inverness Caledonian Thistle will be looking to win promotion back to the Championship.
Inverness finished their League One campaign last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Montrose to end the season in seventh place.
Despite receiving a 15-point deduction in October after the club went into administration, they still managed to finish seven points clear of the relegation zone.
It was revealed last week that Inverness Caledonian Thistle can still offer new deals to current players in the squad, but can’t sign new players on permanent deals while still in administration.
However, the club could come out of administration on Thursday, May 22 when a vote is set to take place on a Company Voluntary Agreement.
If the vote is agreed, Alan Savage will assume control of the club after he was named as the preferred bidder for the club last month by administrators BDO.
Kellacher says despite the League One campaign coming to an end on Saturday, he is already looking ahead to next season to put the club in the best position to mount a promotion challenge.
He said: "The hard work starts now.
"It is important to get it right, because we want to hit the ground running next season.
"You don't get a break in this game, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
"Football has been my life since I was four years old and was kicking a ball around. It is all I've known.
"I'm lucky I've got a family who understands that and lets me get on with it.
"We want to build this club into what it's capable of.
"We didn't hide the fact our aim was to stay in the league this season, but we have to aim for the title next year.
"It was hard with the 15-point deduction, but we got there in the end.
"We want to get back to the top leagues. We want to win it next season.“
Kellacher praised his team for what they achieved this season as Inverness Caledonian Thistle finished the League One campaign with victory over Montrose.
Goals from Paul Allan and Billy Mckay gave Inverness a 2-0 win at Links Park on Saturday afternoon as they finished the season in seventh place.
Inverness finished the season on 43 points, three points clear of Montrose in eighth and seven points above Annan Athletic in the relegation play-off zone in ninth.
Kellacher, who was appointed head coach after Duncan Ferguson was made redundant after the club went into administration in October, was proud of what his players achieved to survive in League One this campaign.
He said: "We have really good footballers within the team, which helps.
"I can't thank the players enough for the effort and commitment they have given us throughout the season.
"They have been so brave - they are young boys, and it could easily have gone the other way.
"They stood up, to a man, and been counted – they have been excellent.
"They played with a freedom and enjoyment on their faces today.
“We're all here to enjoy football. The players enjoyed it and so did the fans. “
I have a big smile on my face because I have enjoyed watching them play. I give them the freedom and I tell them what I want on the training ground and they take that on the pitch more often than not.”
