Football Season Guide

Inverness are freshly relegated from the Premiership and, at present, something of an unknown quantity. Until ICT's relegation, they were viewed as a solid mid-table Premiership team. They had, after all, spent 12 of their last 13 seasons in the top flight and won the Scottish Cup. All that has changed and they could be in for a hard time in the Championship as they seek to regroup and become a force once again. Richie Foran and some of the squad who failed last season have departed. Their unexpected choice of manager is John Robertson. A former ICT manager, Robertson, was a media pundit having left football management five years ago. It remains to be seen if he can resume managerial responsibilities once again and rekindle the early success he had the first time at ICT. Being one of their own, the media can be expected to give him an easy time to begin with. Summer signings haven't been spectacular either although ex-Falkirk striker, John Baird, will give them a wealth of Championship experience. Others appear to be journeymen that have been recommended to Robertson. ICT have retained a core of their stalwarts including Ross Draper, Liam Polworth, Carl Tremarco and Iain Vigurs. These players should give them a solid base to build from. A few loan signings can also be expected as Inverness look to complete their squad. Their pre-season form in friendlies and the Betfred Cup was patchy. If Robertson fails to produce a flying start to the season then he will be under immediate pressure. Inverness are taking a huge gamble in appointing Robertson again. He has no time to settle back into the managerial role and that alone may count against Inverness and leave them playing catch-up from the early stages of the campaign. Inverness will always be a tough venue for others to visit but they may well see reaching the play-offs as a success as they rebuild.