Inverness manager John Hughes claims he was so disillusioned after the decision to retrospectively charge Josh Meekings for handball that he contemplated resigning.
The central defender was issued with a notice of complaint after blocking Leigh Griffiths’ header in Sunday’s semi-final against Celtic and will miss the final against Falkirk if he loses his appeal at Hampden.
Inverness manager Hughes said: “If this is what goes on in Scottish football then I don’t know if I want to be a part of it. I’m serious when I say that.
“I’m really, really disillusioned by it and over the past two days I’ve just kept my phone off. I’m thankful I’m away, I stay by myself and I can get on that bike and have plenty of time to think about it.
But following overwhelming support from his colleagues in the game Hughes has decided to stay on and has vowed his players will not let the Meekings saga distract them.
The 50-year-old said: “That’s how low I was over the last couple of days but when there’s an injustice we get together and stick together.
“The amount of phone calls and text messages I’ve had from people that I respect in the game has probably rekindled my fight to make sure that I’m not going to lie down and I’m not going to buckle.
“No matter what happens to Josh Meekings we’re going to create that siege mentality again and we’re just going to keep driving forward.”