Following speculation and further reporting in the media over the last 24 hours, we would like to clarify what transpired over the weekend.

The club can confirm that Manager John Robertson was directly approached by Dundee FC on Saturday evening. Within minutes of this approach, John notified the club and confirmed to our CEO that he had no desire or intention to speak to Dundee FC about their vacant Managerial position. He did not reply to, nor acknowledge this approach. To be 100% clear, this approach from Dundee FC was entirely unsolicited and given that it was less than 24 hours after a draining Premiership Play-Off Semi- Final defeat, entirely unwelcome.

The club itself was not formally contacted by Dundee FC until late Sunday afternoon, when a senior member of our club staff was spoken to by the DFC club secretary. Following this phone call, he received an e-mail formally asking for permission to speak to John with regards the vacant Managerial position at Dens Park. The member of staff contacted our CEO immediately, at which point and with knowledge of the previous day’s direct approach, he immediately contacted and denied DFC permission to have any further contact with our Manager.

It is testament to the great work John has done over the last two seasons that he has been targeted by a competitor. The Board of ICTFC recognised this and indeed our confidence in his ability, is why John had already been secured on a deal which will see him in charge until at least the end of season 20/21. This contract had been widely reported on last year and was common and public knowledge.

During his current tenure and following our previous traumatic demotion to the Championship, John has overseen our longest ever run of clean sheets, recorded our record unbeaten run of 25 league games, secured our and his, second Challenge Cup victory, reached the Scottish Cup Semi-Final and finished 3rd in the league, only losing out in the Premiership Play-Off Semi-Final last Friday night.

John is here to build a promotion winning side, to hopefully oversee the transition of many our league winning Under 18 side of 2018/19 to first team players and to lead the club into our immediate, promising future. He has the full backing of our fans, players, staff and Board of Directors. Our improvement on the field over the past two seasons is down to the diligence, integrity and football intelligence of John and his staff.

We look forward to next season with good faith and quiet confidence.

We urge the Caley Thistle support to get behind John and the team in increasing numbers and help us to go one stage further in Season 2019/20.