Inverness Caley Thistle defender Danny Devine hopes pressure will ease in Highland capital after administration exit announced
Danny Devine believes Inverness Caledonian Thistle will be able to kick on again after the threat of administration was removed.
What it means is that by the time players return for pre-season, the club should be free to plan for the future without any lingering threat hanging over the club’s head.
Caley Thistle have been no strangers to pressure over recent seasons, competing in promotion play-offs, relegation play-offs and a Scottish Cup final.
However, last year hit new levels as ICT had to battle against a 15-point deduction to stay in League One. They will still have to deal with a five-point penalty for the 2025/26 campaign, but having a resolution to the off-field issues should only help create a more stable environment for Inverness to thrive in on the pitch.
“We might actually have had more pressure on us last season than the years before, because we all knew what it would have meant for the club, the staff and the players if things had gone the wrong way,” Devine said.
“The way we actually played most weeks though, I don’t think you would have thought we were under that sort of pressure.
“I’m sure it was in the back of some minds, because everyone had that pressure of wondering if they were going to have a job here next season if it didn’t work out, but I think the boys used that pressure in the right way.
“It will be great (not to have administration in the background). It’s been hanging over the boys, so hopefully by the start of next season we can kick on.
“All credit to Alan Savage, he has been trying his best to get it sorted as quickly and as soon as possible.”
Devine also had peace of mind on a personal level going into the off-season, having been one of 11 players to agree new contracts to remain at the Caledonian Stadium for next season.
In his case, it was a two-year deal committing him to the club until the summer of 2027, allowing him to switch off and refresh both mentally and physically ahead of the inevitable renewed charge forward in pre-season.
“I’ve said in the past how happy I am up here in this part of the world,” Devine explained.
“I’ve obviously got family up here now, and after what we went through as a team and as a club last season it obviously ended positively.
“I was just looking forward to getting something sorted as soon as possible. Obviously I was speaking to the club in the last couple of weeks of the season, and we’ve managed to get something done, so I’m excited. I’m resting up now, but I’m already looking forward to next season.
“It’s always good to have that peace of mind as soon as possible when you go off on your summer holidays once the season finishes.
“I’m obviously delighted to be staying on, and hopefully we can just keep pushing the club forward.”
Devine had intimated before the end of the season that he was keen to stick around the club and push for the League One title next season.
Now, having kept the majority of their squad, he still feels that the club should be aiming for the top of the table.
“Fair play to the club, I think it’s good that so many of the boys are tied up for next season,” Devine continued.
“We have a base of a squad to go and build on. Hopefully we can add four or five more during the summer, and really give it a good go for next season.
“When you see what we did last season with a lot of restrictions on the playing squad, if you take those 15 points back we would have finished second.
“No matter what happens, next season the aim has to be to win the league.
“Saying that puts a lot of pressure on the team, and on us, and it’s pressure that we want to have. It’s pressure that we look forward to, because ultimately that’s our goal for next season.”
