Inverness CT to train at Kelty in Fife – 135 miles from stadium

Inverness Caledonian Thistle moving their training base to Fife “rips the soul of the club out of the community”, say the club’s supporter’s trust.

The Highlands club has agreed a partnership with Kelty Hearts to train at New Central Park Stadium – 135 miles away from their home stadium.

The teams will be Scottish League One rivals next season following Caley Thistle’s relegation from the Championship as a result of the play-off defeat against Hamilton Academical.

Duncan Ferguson’s side will play in the third tier of Scottish football next season for the first time since 1999.

They say the decision shows those in charge of the club are “completely and utterly disengaged with the fanbase”, and have called for “all major shareholders to get together and address this situation before it’s too late”.

The club cited “geographic challenges” with convincing players to relocate as a reason for the decision but stressed their commitment to developing local talent and emphasised “Inverness will always be our home”.

In a lengthy statement, they list “extremely limited housing stock” and high accommodation costs that are “impractical for a one or two year contract” as factors in their recruitment struggles.

The 135-mile journey from Inverness to the small town of Kelty to the north of Dunfermline is largely made on the A9, which for long stretches is a single carriageway.

Former Inverness winger Daniel Mackay, who came through the club’s academy, fears his old team has “lost its roots”.

Writing on X, the Hibernian player called the move “ludicrous” and “appalling”.

“Ruining the club that was built on community,” he said. “Now no pathway or inspiration for youngsters in Inverness to play for their local team.”

In their statement, the club said there will be a pathway for local talent without giving further details and also suggest their location is an issue when it comes to signing loan players.

“For the avoidance of any doubt we absolutely intend to continue to develop our own homegrown Highland boys and we will take the appropriate steps to make sure that by being creative, innovative and practical, they do not miss out on the chance to have a pathway to first-team football,” adds the statement.

Talks with Kelty began before Inverness dropped a division and the club say “the pros still far outweigh the cons” in the partnership.