The club can confirm our Sporting Director John Robertson is leaving the club to pursue other opportunities in the game.
Chairman Ross Morrison said “John has served the club incredibly well over a number of years, both as a successful Manager and more recently as Sporting Director. His football achievements here in the Highlands are outlined below and his astute transfer dealings brought in significant funds across his time in charge and throughout that period he was always a brilliant ambassador for the club.
His drive to establish the new 10 acre Hub for the ICT Community Trust working with Highland Council, Sport Scotland and the SFA and his input into accessing six figure grants for our Community Trust in particular has gone unseen by almost everyone out with the football club. We wish him well in his future endeavours and he will always be welcome at the Caledonian Stadium.”
John first joined the club in December 2002 as he was appointed the club’s manager following Steve Paterson’s departure to Aberdeen. He then led the team to a 4th place finish in 2002/03 and beat Celtic 1-0 in the Scottish Cup Quarter Finals to set up the club’s first ever trip to Hampden.
The following season the team went on to win the First Division (now the Championship) title and Challenge Cup double during a remarkable 2003/04 season. In November 2004 Robbo left the club to join Hearts.
Upon the club’s relegation to the Championship, Robertson would return in June 2017 when he was appointed Manager for a second time and John had to totally rebuild the squad, winning the Challenge Cup against Dumbarton at McDiarmid Park.
The following season saw him lead the team to a 3rd place finish and into the play-off places and once again lead the team to Hampden for a Scottish Cup Semi-Final against Hearts, losing 3-0. Caley Thistle were beaten in the Premiership Play-Off semi finals by Dundee United.
John had the team sitting in 2nd place during 2019/20 and in the Challenge Cup final when the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season would be ended with us in 2nd place and Caley Thistle and Raith Rovers would be confirmed as joint winners of the Challenge Cup.
The 2020/21 cinch Championship season would begin at the later start of October and only with major restrictions. John was granted compassionate leave following a family bereavement in February 2021.
Robertson returned back to the club in June 2021 as the club’s first ever Sporting Director.
Honours/Achievements at ICTFC
Scottish First Division title – 2003/04
Scottish Challenge Cup – 2003/04, 2017/18, 2019/20 (joint with Raith Rovers)
Scottish Cup Semi Finals 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2018/19