Latest news with #BillyMckay
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
East Kilbride v Inverness CT
Update: Date: 5' Title: Booking Content: Liam Sole (Inverness CT) is shown the yellow card. Update: Date: 2' Title: Post Content: Corner,Inverness CT. Conceded by Joe Morrison. Update: Date: 1' Title: Post Content: Billy Mckay (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Update: Date: 1' Title: Post Content: Foul by David Ferguson (East Kilbride). Update: Date: 1' Title: Kick Off Content: First Half begins. Update: Date: 1' Title: Post Content: Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Press and Journal
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Billy Mckay proud as Caley Thistle's latest 'crazy' chapter ends in League One survival
Billy Mckay says defying the odds to survive relegation from League One is another memorable chapter in Caley Thistle's 'crazy' history. Inverness came into creation in 1994 and the club has spent 12 of its 31 years in the top-flight over two separate spells. Last summer saw them relegated from the Championship to League One just a few months before administration and a 15-point deduction kicked in. Scott Kellacher replaced Duncan Ferguson as head coach in October and he guided the largely young side to safety with Saturday's 3-0 victory over champions Arbroath. It was a result which finally put Annan Athletic out of reach, as the Galabankies will contest the relegation play-offs next week. ICT will complete the campaign in sixth position if they defeat Montrose at Links Park on Saturday, overtaking their opponents to do so. Mckay, who traded captaincy duties for his assistant manager role this term, admits for the 2015 Scottish Cup winners, this was another big milestone. The club's record scorer said: 'When I joined, I didn't realise how young this club was. 'We had that really successful period when we got to finals and the club won the Scottish Cup. 'What this club has done in 31 years is crazy. 'This season when you think everything is against us, what we've done by staying in League One is brilliant. 'There were times like these that give the club an identity and a bit of history. This club has got that in abundance. 'We want to help take Inverness back to the Premiership eventually. It might take time, but that's when we had the best times at this club. 'The history is there – this is a special club.' While Inverness can have grand plans to get back to the top table of Scottish football, being the best in League One is the goal from August. Mckay said: 'We can aim for the Premiership, but it will be one step at a time as we're still a League One club. 'Of course, that's got to be the ultimate goal for the club. 'We've always punched above our weight, but in this division, we should be near the top. 'I know Arbroath had won the league, but they put out their strongest team on Saturday, and we beat them. And we feel we matched them often this season, and not got the results we deserve. 'Next season the aim has got to be for us to be right up there. It has been all about survival and we've done that now. 'Hopefully everything will be sorted out and the club can exit administration, and we can push on as a club.' As former chairman Alan Savage hopes his £800,oo0 offer for ICT is accepted, Mckay is is in no doubt that the Orion Group chief who has pumped in £1m in less than a year, has been vital in keeping the Caley Jags arrived. He added: 'Without Alan, we would not be where we are. 'Without him putting in his own money, we'd have had a lot more players go – it would have been an even younger squad. 'There's a lot of potential here, but it would have been so difficult for a lot of them to step up, at this moment. 'This club would be on its knees without Alan Savage. 'If everything goes to plan, and he steps in as the new owner, hopefully the only way for this club is up.'
Press and Journal
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Caley Thistle's record scorer Billy Mckay heaps praise on manager Scott Kellacher after great escape
Billy Mckay hailed Caley Thistle boss Scott Kellacher for backing him through thick and thin after his strike helped the club secure their League One status. ICT's record scorer netted the final goal in Saturday's rousing 3-0 home win against champions Arbroath to lift the administration-hit club onto 40 points and seventh spot. Ninth-placed Annan Athletic's 3-1 defeat at relegated Dumbarton means they can no longer catch ICT and the Galabankies will contest the League One relegation play-off against a League Two opponent – either Edinburgh City or Elgin City. The Caley Jags were bashed with a 15-point deduction in October, but they've shown enough quality to stay up, with a game to spare – away to Montrose on Saturday. Mckay's lethal finish, his fourth of this season, takes his record-breaking tally to 116 goals – 15 clear of Dennis Wyness. After being relegated from the Championship last May, a player clear-out, a boardroom shake-up then administration led to a mainly young group remaining for what has been a torrid term for the Highlanders. However, avoiding the danger of another demotion, means they can look ahead with optimism. Former chairman Alan Savage is waiting for his £800,000 offer to take the club out of administration and they do so as a League One side. Kellacher, who replaced Duncan Ferguson when administration was activated, took then skipper Mckay on as his number two, as Mckay combined the role with his playing duties. Seeing the ball crash into the net against Arbroath set Mckay on the way to celebrate with the ICT manager. He said: 'I don't really plan celebrations anymore because I planned one when I was about 20 and I went on a nine-goal drought. 'At half-time, I thought if I score, I'm going to run to the manager. He's probably, out of all the people, the one who has stuck by me and believed in me the most. 'I'm not going to lie, it has been difficult for me on the pitch, because I have contributed without the goals, but only really football people see that. 'It was good to get a couple of goals in the last two weeks. It made me feel a lot happier about myself. 'There have been times this year when the manager and I have had conversations about putting me on the bench. 'If everyone is fit, including (on-loan Aberdeen forward) Alfie Bavidge, then I probably would be on the bench right now. 'I'm 36, and I don't expect to play every week, but the boys appreciate what I still put in. Moments like that celebration make it all worth it. 'I was very happy to get that goal and, as soon as it left my foot, I knew I'd hit it pretty well.' Including loanees, 14 of Saturday's squad were aged 21 or under and Mckay praised the entire group for coming through the pain of seeing team-mates shown the door during administration and responding in the best possible fashion. He said: 'It has been difficult since the Hamilton play-off defeat last season followed by the summer and everything that happened with the club. 'I don't think you can underestimate what an achievement it is from these boys. 'To sit in a room and see team-mates pulled out and let go (when administration happened) was so tough. 'They've had to deal with that, and injuries, and a lot of stuff that should not happen at professional clubs. Everyone has dug in. 'I know, at one point, we maybe got a wee bit ahead of ourselves about doing even better in the league than we have done, but the job was to stay up. 'Mentality is such a big thing and we were outstanding on Saturday against Arbroath. 'We have such a young group, and to have that mentality and that 'no fear' attitude and put in a performance like that was outstanding.' Last season, under Ferguson, Mckay was played in a deeper role, which hampered his scoring opportunities. Although more advanced under Kellacher, he feels he should have scored more, but admits the main task for him was to help keep ICT up – and it is job done. Speaking about playing under Ferguson, he said: 'I thought it was effective up until the final third. 'I was asked to help with the build-up more than I have probably in my whole career. 'This season, with the change of management, I have been back up front. 'I know I could have scored more this season. When I look at top scorers in the league and I feel like I should be up there. 'Although I'm disappointed that way, I have said all season I don't care if I score as long as this club stays in the division. That's what we've done.'
