A founder and ex-manager of the only junior football club in Inverness has said it would be “heart-breaking” if the team was forced to disband.
Stevie Graham was a key figure in establishing Inverness City FC a decade ago, and he guided the club into junior football’s North Superleague before stepping down as manager two years ago.
Last night, he spoke of his “shock” after the Press and Journal revealed that the future of the club was in doubt because Highland Council will not renew its lease of a pitch at the Bught playing fields.
The club has invested more than £70,000 at the site, and does not believe there is another pitch in the city that it will be able to use and bring up to the same standard.
But the local authority insist that the club’s five-year lease was always intended as a temporary solution to its long-running quest to find a home, and that the playing field must be returned to public use next year.
Mr Graham admitted that the future of Inverness City looked “bleak” as a result of the decision.
“It’s a bit of a shock. Obviously I knew there was a lease agreed for the five years, but the guys have worked so hard to create something with the club, and it’s just disappointing,” he said.
“You think about the investment made, not only the club put in, but the money Highland Council gave us as a set up grant. It must be £70,000, £80,000 or £90,000 in total.
“A lot of people put their hearts and souls into raising that money. For a wee club that is a heck of a lot of money, and it doesn’t grow on trees.
“If the club had to find somewhere else, it wouldn’t have any money to do anything.
“It does look bleak for the club. It’s just going to be really heart-breaking for myself, who was involved in the club from the start, but am now more a supporter.”
Mr Graham added that the loss of the club would leave a major gap in the city’s sporting community.
“We’ve got Caley-Thistle, we’ve got Clach, and we’ve got Inverness City. We already don’t have enough clubs to sustain the number of players in Inverness,” he said.
“That’s why we set it up – lads had to travel 50 or 60 miles for a football club.”