Caley Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson revealed Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was among those who reached out to congratulate him after he won his first match at the first attempt with the Highlanders.
The new Inverness boss was bowled over by the messages from across the country from footballing people after his ICT team beat Arbroath 3-2 on Saturday to get off the foot of the Championship on goal difference.
It was the side’s first victory since predecessor Billy Dodds’ team won 2-1 against Bonnyrigg Rose in mid-July in the Viaplay Cup group stages.
Inverness are now gearing up to host third-placed Partick Thistle on Saturday as they look to build upon their first league victory of the term.
Ferguson, who played for and bossed Everton on a caretaker basis in the English Premier League, said ex-Rangers boss and long-time Liverpool star Gerrard, who is now manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq, was quick off the mark with congratulations.
‘Incredible’ amount of messages
He said: “When you get your first victory, everyone buys into it much quicker. Everyone was looking for our result on Saturday.
“The amount of calls and texts I got saying ‘well done’ was incredible. They came in from all up and down the country.
“Steven Gerrard was looking for the result and he is out in Saudi, so that was the furthest one.
“There were a lot of football guys up and down the country wishing me well.
“It is like anything, you are set up for the fall, we want it to be positive, and we got the result, which is good, but we could have lost the game.
👔 Duncan Ferguson takes to the dugout for the first time at the Caledonian Stadium this Saturday
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— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) October 5, 2023
“We need to embrace that and move on to the next one. Bottom of the league and we need to push on.
“Three points will push us on, but it won’t be easy against Partick. No disrespect to Arbroath, Partick will be a stronger team.
“It’s nice to get that result straight away.
“We will lose games – that’s football. We got the first win of the season, which is really good. That helps the players believe they are good players.”
‘I push players as hard as possible’
The squad have spoken of the high-intensity training they’ve experienced since Ferguson took over last week.
Ferguson is sure getting the victory at Arbroath will have certainly put an extra spring in their step ahead of the Thistle match.
He said: “Every coach works differently. When you get a victory, everything is brilliant, isn’t it?
“Everyone thinks everything has turned round. I know this team was close before I came in and I know they were working 100% before.
“I have my style and I push the players as hard as I possibly can. When you win your first game, people maybe buy into that much quicker.”
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We will face @NairnCounty in the North of Scotland Cup Semi Final on Wednesday 18 October, 8pm kick-off at Station Park
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Boss alters players’ working week
And Ferguson, who is running the rule over a couple of free-agent trialists, said his squad have taken changes to their working week on board
He added: “We have got a good squad. For whatever reason, it has just not quite happened for them over the last three or four weeks. They have been a little bit unlucky.
“I have been really pleased with their reaction. With any new manager, you will get a bounce and that’s happened.
“Every coach works differently. There will be a bit of adaptation-time. We have changed the training regime and their days off and in. It will take time for the squad to get used to the way I work.”
* Caley Thistle’s North of Scotland Cup home semi-final against Highland League opponents Nairn County has been switched to Station Park, Nairn, on Wednesday, October 18, with an 8pm start.
