Caley Thistle manager Richie Foran says speculation over his future has not affected him and the Irishman is confident he retains the backing of the club’s board.
Inverness’ board of directors met this week for what the club described in a statement as a routine meeting after an alarming run of only one win from 21 games, with last Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat by St Johnstone leaving them four points adrift at the foot of the Premiership.
Foran, who is under contract until 2020, is standing firm in the face of the pressure despite Caley Jags’ top-flight status being under severe threat with only six matches left, starting with tomorrow’s crucial trip to 11th-placed Motherwell.
Foran said: “There was no board meeting about my future. The club has put out a statement, so everything will be done face to face with the chairman. It doesn’t get me up or down.
“It’s not affected me. I’m quite strong-minded. When you take a job on, you’ve got to expect criticism, rumours, speculation and lies.
“I wouldn’t say it is easy. It’s obviously challenging at times, but I’d like to think I have good mental strength about me.
“I’ve been through a lot of challenging times since I was born. I grew up in the inner city of Dublin, a rough area where you always have to come out and fight your own corner.
“I’ll fight my corner as well as the players will fight theirs and we’ll come out on top in this one.
“In some sort of sick way I’m enjoying the challenge. I’m not enjoying where we are but I’m enjoying the challenge.
“I’ll enjoy it at the end of it because we’re going to get through it and finish this season on a real high.
“It will only make me a better person, a better manager. I’ll have learned so much.
“It’s not about me or how I’m getting on because I can deal with it, no bother. Football is not the be-all and end-all in life. There are worse things going on than sitting at the bottom of the league table. I also know how important it is to get off the bottom, to the supporters and to the club and myself.
“I’m not happy with it but I know the outcome is going to be good for us.”
Despite a poor campaign which has seen Inverness win just four league matches, Foran feels the club has made progress off the field.
He added: “Maybe the board has seen our football, seen our performances and seen what is happening off the park in the youth department, the under-20s, how we’ve brought everyone together.
“It always comes back to results on the Saturday. That’s the most important part and we haven’t got enough points. But maybe they see everything that has gone on in the background and how hard we’re working and pulling together.”
