Say it ain’t so, Charlie

By: Ian Rose | March 21st, 2007

An open letter to Charlie Christie (Manager, Inverness Caley Thistle):

Charlie,

I have heard the rumors about your comments after the loss to Dunfermline this past weekend. There was talk of leaving, that the team had not performed to your expectations and it might be time to move on. On behalf of all Caley Thistle fans, and of all Scottish football fans, I’m asking, nay, begging you to reconsider. More than anyone else in the organization, you are Caley Thistle. You were the only player to step on the pitch for both Inverness and Caley before the two teams were merged, and also play for the post-merger squad. You are known throughout the league as one of the highest-regarded coaches and leaders in the Scottish game. You’ve taken the Scottish side with the lowest attendance in the league (a measure of the stadium and size of the town, not the ferocity of the support) and made us a solid middle-of-the-road SPL team. Last season, Caley Thistle was the clear #7 side, the “Best of the Rest”, if you will, and there were high expectations that we could break into the top half this season. It’s understandable to be disappointed in missing that goal, especially coming off of a loss like the one on Saturday, giving up three goals to a Pars side that hadn’t won a single match on the road all season, until that one. But, think of the obstacles overcome this season. Craig Dargo and Dennis Wyness, two of our leading scorers, were both taken out with oddly similar shoulder injuries, and we lost Mark Brown between the posts. I had some faith that Mike Fraser would be able to step up and become a leader for this team, but he has struggled. So, take one goalkeeper and two strikers from a middle-of-the-road team, and what do you get? That’s right - a bottom-third team. But, it’s not time to give up yet. The owners have expressed their interest in going outside of the country, specifically to Eastern Europe, to find new talent, a strategy that has certainly worked for other Scottish sides. I believe you’ll have to find a new keeper, but with Dunfermline looking like a relegation squad, there may be an opportunity to poach Dorus DeVries, arguably one of the best keepers in Scotland, who has to be frustrated with facing the drop after a very respectable season in goal. In short, there’s hope. Stick with us, one more year. There are many of us that still believe Caley Thistle is a top-six contender next season, but if you leave us, I don’t believe that will happen. Good luck, and Go Caley.

-Ian