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HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS ENTERPRISE BACK CALEY THISTLE
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) today backed the growing campaign to overturn the Scottish Premier League's decision to deny Inverness Caledonian Thistle entry to the league.

Chief executive Sandy Cumming said: "The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network has a longstanding involvement with Caley Thistle with Inverness and Nairn Enterprise having played a pivotal part in the club's formation in the 1990s.

"The team has earned the right to play in the Premier League and its treatment at the hands of the SPL can only be described as shoddy. Any organisation which interprets a majority decision in this way has to be questioned.

"Although the ground-sharing arrangement with Aberdeen is not ideal, there has never been any question that it was to be anything other than temporary and that the club would return to its home base at the earliest opportunity. A strong, successful top flight team will bring many benefits and a real feel good factor to Inverness and the Highlands.

"Caley Thistle have proved themselves true ambassadors for the area and deserve to succeed in their efforts to overturn this unjust decision."

COUNCIL DISMAY AT SPL DECISION
Provost William Smith, Chairman of the City of Inverness and Area Committee of The Highland Council, described the decision by the Scottish Premier League to deny Inverness Caledonian Thistle entry into the league as �unjust�.
He said: �This is a black day for Scottish football and a black day for Inverness. The SPL have let the Highlands down badly with a decision that is unjust. I am desperately sorry for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, whose management, players and supporters have shown the ambition to realise their right to play in the Premier League as champions of the Scottish First Division. They won the league on merit and richly deserved the right to play at the highest level.�
Council Convener Councillor Alison Magee echoed the provost�s response.  She said: �I am desperately disappointed at the decision of the SPL to deny Inverness Caledonian Thistle entry to the top league, given the commitment by the club to, in the first instance ground share with Aberdeen,  and then to upgrade their own stadium. It is so unfair. I can only hope that the club are successful with the appeal I understand they intend to lodge. We will support the club in any other action they think may be appropriate.�

02-Jun-04
Inverness urged to appeal SPL rejection
INVERNESS Caledonian Thistle were last night considering whether to lodge an appeal against yesterday's decision to deny them promotion to the Bank of Scotland Premierleague.

Caley Thistle miss out
Special Broadcasting Service, Australia 
... Caley Thistle needed at least eight votes in their favour to push ahead with a ground-share plan with nearest rivals Aberdeen but five clubs opted to vote ...
Caley Thistle lose SPL bid - Soccerway
SPL reject Caley Thistle ground share plan - scottish tv
Caley Thistle chief feels for position of Partick - The Scotsman
Glasgow Daily Record - North Scotland Press and Journal - and more �