Caley Thistle boss Scott Kellacher: ‘Thanks to Aberdeen for loaning back Alfie Bavidge and Alfie Stewart; we help improve younger players’

Caley Thistle boss Scott Kellacher thanked Aberdeen for putting Alfie Bavidge and Alfie Stewart back on loan to his Championship-bound side.

The Dons Youth Academy graduates were key players as Inverness, despite a five-point deduction, won the League One title last year.

Bavidge, 20, and Stewart, who will be 20 later this month, signed new one-year deals with Aberdeen last month. 

Bavidge, who scored 20 Inverness goals last season in all competitions, was loaned back to the Highlanders by manager Stephen Robinson.

He’s at ICT for the season, with an option for the Pittodrie side to call him back in January. 

And Stewart, who was part of the Dons’ first-team pool who travelled to the Netherlands in pre-season, was loaned back to ICT this week. 

Stewart scored eight goals in 44 appearances for the club last term.

It was felt that playing in the Championship would be an ideal platform for the players, who both have ambitions to make it with the Dons. This is Bavidge and Stewart’s third successive loan period with the Caley Jags.

‘I think Aberdeen can see that we’re youth-orientated’

Kellacher, whose Inverness side host League One opponents East Fife in their opening Premier Sports Cup tie this Saturday, was delighted that his club were valued in such a way that Bavidge and Stewart were loaned back.

He said: “I thank Stephen Robinson, (assistant head coach) Brian Kerr and (development coach) Stuart Duff at Aberdeen, because they’ve been great.

“We’ve had good relationships with Derek McInnes and other managers as well who have helped us out.

“I think they can see that we’re youth-orientated, and we like to bring boys in and make them better.

“The two Alfies are good examples, but so is Ben Brannan (who was on loan from Kilmarnock) and Mitch Robertson (who had loan spells last season from Celtic then his new club Livingston).

“We’ve got our own players with guys like Shae Keogh knocking on the door too.

“I think it’s fortunate that I’ve come through the youth system myself, and I think there’s no better feeling than seeing a player out on the pitch who has come through your system.

“If we help other clubs with that, it can benefit us, so it’s a win-win. I think you can see they have all improved since they came to the football club, so we want to be known to be helping people.”

Three types of targets on ICT’s list

This summer Inverness have signed left-back Nou Boutin, midfielders Graeme Shinnie and Ryan Duncan, winger Liam Sole, and forward Hamzad Kargbo.

They have also brought in striker Morgan Bates on loan for the season from Swansea City.

Goalkeepers Ross Munro and Logan Ross, defender Remi Savage and midfielder Paul Allan all penned new deals as did academy graduate Sam Thompson, Shae Keogh and Ben Corner.

Kellacher revealed the areas where he still looks to bolster.

He said: “We’re looking to bring in another defender and another striker as well as a versatile-type player who can play in a few positions.

“We’re being patient. There is still eight weeks left of the window. We will try to get them in soon, to get them settled in. That’s the plan in terms of our signings.”

Trialists remain in deal contention

Former QPR youth and ex-Maidstone United striker Kargbo earned his one-year deal after impressing Kellacher on trial.

And ex-ICT winger Daniel Mackay and former Dundee United and Aston Villa defender Kerr Smith have been on trial as Kellacher considers his options.

When asked about whether he’s close to deciding on the trialists, he added: “We’re getting a wee bit closer, but we have to be patient.

“We have to make sure they’re right for coming in, we don’t want to dive into anything.

“We’ve had five or six boys in, which we did last year too, because there are some hidden gems out there and you might just find one.

“In the past we’ve put in a lot of work into finding them, and some have gone on to bigger and better things.

“The trialists we have had this year have done well, but we need to make sure they are going to fit in for us as well.”

[Source: Press and Journal]