2025–26 Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. season

Inverness Caledonian Thistle
2025–26 season
ChairmanScott Young
ManagerScott Kellacher
StadiumCaledonian Stadium (Capacity: 7,512)
League One1st
Scottish CupFourth Round
League CupGroup Stage
Challenge CupThird Round
Highest home attendance2,316 vs. East Fife
(27 September 2025)
Lowest home attendance390 vs. Dundee United B
(11 November 2025)

The 2025–26 Inverness Caledonian Thistle season is the club's 32nd season in the SPFL and the club's second consecutive in Scottish League One,[1] following their relegation from the Championship in 2023–24. Due to the club entering administration the season prior, they will start the league with a 5-point deduction.

Fixtures

Friendlies

21 June 2025 Friendly Strathspey Thistle 1 – 4 Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI Grantown-on-Spey
14:00 Doran 65' Gardiner 26' (pen.),

Trialist 42', 45',

S. Thompson 57'
Stadium: Seafield Park
25 June 2025 Friendly Nairn County 0 – 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Nairn
19:30 Stadium: Station Park
25 June 2025 Friendly Rothes 2 – 3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Rothes
19:30 Duncan 24',
Shepard 65'
Wotherspoon 37',

S. Thompson 63',

R. Thompson 68'
Stadium: Mackessack Park
28 June 2025 Friendly Forres Mechanics 4 – 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Forres
13:00 ? 33',

Frame 39',
Hayllar 86',

McLauchlan 87'
Stadium: Mosset Park
4 July 2025 Friendly Wick Academy P – P Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI Wick
19:30 Stadium: Upper Bignold
Note: Postponed due to waterlogged pitch
5 July 2025 Aaron Doran Testimonial Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI 0 – 2 Ross County XI Inverness
14:00 Hale 7', 45' Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,000
9 July 2025 Friendly Banks o' Dee 1 – 3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Aberdeen
19:00 Hunter 78' Wotherspoon 27',
Allan 60' (pen.), 62'
Stadium: Spain Park

League

2 August 2025 1 Kelty Hearts 0 – 3 Inverness CT Kelty
15:00 Report Mckay 4',

Longstaff 37',

Wotherspoon 60'
Stadium: New Central Park
Attendance: 613
9 August 2025 2 Inverness CT 2 – 0 Peterhead Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Wotherspoon 39',
Sole 55'
Report Attendance: 2,078
16 August 2025 3 Inverness CT 1 – 2 Stenhousemuir Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Allan 22' (pen.) Report Aitken 35' (pen.),
Taylor 81'
Attendance: 1,927
23 August 2025 4 Montrose 0 – 2 Inverness CT Links Park
15:00 Report Bavidge 4',
MacLeod 33'
Attendance: 776
30 August 2025 5 Inverness CT 1 – 0 Alloa Athletic Inverness
15:00 Sole 72' Report Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 2,116
13 September 2025 6 Cove Rangers 0 – 1 Inverness CT Aberdeen
17:30 Report MacLeod 66' Stadium: Balmoral Stadium
Attendance: 456
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was moved for live BBC Alba broadcast.
20 September 2025 7 Queen of the South 0 – 2 Inverness CT Palmerston Park
15:00 Report Zimba 9',
Longstaff 90+3'
Attendance: 1,114
27 September 2025 8 Inverness CT 4 – 1 East Fife Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Wotherspoon 17', 62',
Stewart 65',
Bavidge 90+9'
Report Austin 43' Attendance: 2,316
4 October 2025 9 Hamilton Academical 3 – 1 Inverness CT Broadwood Stadium
15:00 O'Hara 22',
Macdonald 64',
Shaw 90+2'
Report Bavidge 63' Attendance: 384
18 October 2025 10 Inverness CT 2 – 2 Kelty Hearts Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Devine 42',
Zimba 54'
Report Murray 11', 24' Attendance: 2,137
25 October 2025 11 Peterhead 0 – 1 Inverness CT Balmoor Stadium
15:00 Report Mckay 67' Attendance: 671
1 November 2025 12 Inverness CT 1 – 0 Montrose Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Zimba 49' Report Attendance: 2,144
8 November 2025 13 Inverness CT 1 – 0 Cove Rangers Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Robertson 18' Report Attendance: 2,102
22 November 2025 14 Inverness CT 4 – 0 Queen of the South Caledonian Stadium
17:30 Sole 8',

Zimba 34',
Mackinnon 65',

Bavidge 75'
Report Attendance: 2,003
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for a 15:00 kick-off, but was moved for live BBC Alba broadcast.
25 November 2025 15 Alloa Athletic 1 – 1 Inverness CT Recreation Park
19:45 O'Donnell 74' Report Longstaff 45' Attendance: 581
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for 15 November 2025, but was moved due to international callups for Alloa loanees
TBC December 2025/January 2026 16 East Fife P – P Inverness CT Bayview Stadium
19:45
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for 6 December 2025, but was rearranged due to the postponement of Inverness' cup tie vs Tranent
13 December 2025 17 Inverness CT 4 – 0 Hamilton Academical Caledonian Stadium
15:00 Robertson 3',
Zimba 41',
Bavidge 54',
McKay 74'
Report
20 December 2025 18 Stenhousemuir v Inverness CT Ochilview Park
15:00 Report
27 December 2025 19 Montrose v Inverness CT Links Park
15:00

Scottish Cup

Inverness were drawn into the Third round on 26 October 2025

10 December 2025 Third round Tranent 1 – 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Haddington
19:45 Jones 24' Report Robertson 17',
Zimba 35'
Stadium: Millfield Park
Attendance: 1,007
Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for 29 November, and rescheduled for 6 December, then 8 December but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch on all three occasions. Game was eventually moved to 10 December at Haddington Athletic's Millfield Park.
17/18 January 2025 Fourth round The Spartans v Inverness Caledonian Thistle Edinburgh
15:00 Stadium: Ainslie Park

League Cup

As with other sides that failed to qualify for European Competition, Inverness will be drawn into the Premier Sports Cup Group Stage on 28 May 2025. They were drawn into Group F with St Johnstone and Raith Rovers of the Championship and Elgin City and East Kilbride of League Two.

19 July 2025 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0 – 1 St Johnstone Inverness
15:00 Report Ikepazu 90' Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
Attendance: 1,585
22 July 2025 East Kilbride 2 – 6 Inverness Caledonian Thistle East Kilbride
19:45 Devine (o.g.) 17',
Robertson 87'
Report Mckay 25',
Allan 48',
Longstaff 51', 57',
MacLeod 54',
Stewart 62',
Stadium: K-Park Training Academy
Attendance: 568
26 July 2025 Raith Rovers 5 – 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Kirkcaldy
15:00 Easton 5', 7', 64',
Hamilton 36',
Savage 90' (o.g.)
Report Wotherspoon 58' Stadium: Stark's Park
Attendance: 1,032

Challenge Cup

League Phase

12 August 2025 League Phase Elgin City 1 – 4 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Borough Briggs
19:45 Gallagher 85' Report Bavidge 47', 90+5' (pen.),

R. Thompson 50'

Allan 63' (pen.)
Attendance: 852
26 August 2025 League Phase Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 – 1 Aberdeen B Caledonian Stadium
19:45 Zimba 12', 77', 82',
Mckay 88'
Report Stephen 9' Attendance: 507
5 September 2025 League Phase Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 – 1 Stirling Albion Caledonian Stadium
19:45 Zimba 35',
Sole 90+4'
Report Cunningham 31',
Murdoch  76'
Attendance: 543
23 September 2025 League Phase Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6 – 0 Dundee B Caledonian Stadium
19:45 Robertson 16',

Alonge 23',
Mckay 37',
Allan 52',
Bavidge 76',

Sole 82'
Report Attendance: 430
11 October 2025 League Phase Forfar Athletic 1 – 4 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Station Park
15:00 Rennie 26' Report MacLeod 49',
Mackinnon 55',
Longstaff 63',
McKay 90'
Attendance: 512
11 November 2025 League Phase Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6 – 0 Dundee United B Caledonian Stadium
19:45 Zimba 7', 19', 43',

Bavidge 49', 89',

Alonge 51'
Report Attendance: 390
16 December 2025 Second Round Dumbarton 0 – 9 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Dumbarton Football Stadium
19:45 Report Bavidge 3', 27', 31', 37',

MacLeod 22',
Mckay 23', 81',
Longstaff 43',

Millen 65' (pen.)
Attendance: 326
Note: Rearranged due to the second rearrangement of Inverness' Scottish Cup tie with Tranent to 8 December 2025.
6/7 January 2026 Third round Partick Thistle v Inverness Caledonian Thistle Glasgow
Stadium: Firhill Stadium

North of Scotland Cup

6 August 2025 North of Scotland Cup Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI 6 – 0 Lossiemouth Lossiemouth
19:45 R. Thompson 18',

Gardiner 27',
Bavidge 39', 41' (pen.),

Alonge 51', 54'
Stadium: Grant Park
20 August 2025 North of Scotland Cup Quarter final Strathspey Thistle 0 – 6 Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI Inverness
19:30 R. Thompson 10', 43',

Alonge 15',
Sole 19', 25',

Robertson 40'
Stadium: Caledonian Stadium
3 September 2025 North of Scotland Cup Semi final Forres Mechanics 2 – 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle XI Forres
20:00 Mackenzie 3',
Frame 60'
Zimba 43' Stadium: Mosset Park

First Team statistics

League Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 16 12 2 2 31 9 +22 33[a] Promotion to the Championship
2 Alloa Athletic 17 8 4 5 22 11 +11 28 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
3 Stenhousemuir 17 7 6 4 20 16 +4 27
4 Queen of the South 17 7 4 6 22 22 0 25
5 East Fife 16 7 4 5 20 21 −1 25
Updated to match(es) played on 13 December 2025. Source: [2]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[3]
Notes:
  1. ^ Inverness Caledonian Thistle were deducted five points for entering administration during the previous season.

League Cup Standings

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification STJ RAI ICT EKB ELG
1 St Johnstone 4 4 0 0 0 15 2 +13 12 Qualification for the second round 3–1 8–0
2 Raith Rovers 4 2 0 0 2 13 9 +4 6 5–1 2–4
3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 2 0 0 2 9 8 +1 6 0–1 2–0
4 East Kilbride 4 2 0 0 2 11 12 −1 6 1–3 2–6
5 Elgin City 4 0 0 0 4 2 19 −17 0 1–5 1–4
Source: [4]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[5]

Challenge Cup Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 6 6 0 0 26 4 +22 18 Advance to Second round
2 Stenhousemuir 6 6 0 0 18 2 +16 18
3 Montrose 6 5 1 0 18 9 +9 16
4 East Fife 6 4 1 1 17 9 +8 13
5 Stranraer 6 4 1 1 12 6 +6 13
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding qualification).[6]

Current Squad

No. Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Previous club Date Acquired Fee Contract end
Goalkeepers
Szymon Rebilas GK Academy 2 August 2024 Trainee 31 May 2028
Logan Ross GK 24 April 2004 Ross County 16 June 2025 Free 31 May 2026
Ross Munro GK Inverness 1 April 2000 Falkirk 17 June 2025 Free 31 May 2026
Defenders
Danny Devine CB Belfast 7 September 1992 Dunfermline Athletic 17 August 2020 Free 31 May 2027
Matthew Strachan CB Inverness 3 June 2005 Academy 11 July 2022 Trainee 31 May 2026
Jack Walker CB Inverness 11 January 2006 Academy 2 August 2024 Trainee 31 May 2026
Ben Gardiner CB Inverness Academy 20 June 2025 Trainee 31 May 2027
Remi Savage CB Liverpool 26 October 2001 Newcastle United 25 January 2025 Free 31 May 2026
Ross Millen RB Glasgow 28 September 1994 Morecambe 19 June 2025 Free 31 May 2026
James Clark RB Fort William Academy 20 June 2025 Trainee 31 May 2027
Jake Davidson CB Stirling 6 October 2000 Queen's Park 16 June 2023 Free 31 January 2026
Mitchell Robertson CB 18 February 2005 Celtic 1 August 2025 Loan 31 May 2025
Midfielders
Adam Mackinnon CM Stornoway 30 April 2003 Ross County 2 August 2024 Free 31 May 2026
Shae Keogh CM Inverness 11 April 2007 Academy 2 August 2024 Trainee 31 May 2028
Ben Corner CM Fort William 2007 Academy 2 August 2024 Trainee 31 May 2028
Calum MacLeod DM Inverness 25 May 2006 Academy 1 July 2023 Trainee 31 May 2027
Sam Reid CM Academy Trainee 31 May 2027
Robbie Thompson AM Inverness 26 April 2004 Academy 1 July 2021 Trainee 31 May 2026
Sam Thompson CM Inverness Academy 20 June 2025 Trainee 31 May 2027
Paul Allan CM Dunfermline 7 February 2000 Dunfermline Athletic 24 August 2024 Free 31 May 2027
Joe Chalmers CM Glasgow 3 January 1994 Dunfermline Athletic 18 June 2025 Free 31 May 2026
Jordan Alonge AM London 1 January 1999 Forres Mechanics 3 July 2025 Free 31 May 2026
Alfie Stewart CM Newtonhill 31 July 2006 Aberdeen 15 July 2025 Loan January 2026
Forwards
Billy Mckay ST Corby 22 October 1988 Ross County 1 July 2021 Free 31 May 2026
Luis Longstaff RW Darlington 24 February 2001 Cove Rangers 20 July 2023 Free 31 May 2027
David Wotherspoon ST Perth 16 January 1990 Dunfermline Athletic 24 June 2025 Free 31 May 2026
Liam Sole RW Watford 21 December 1999 Livingston 7 July 2025 Loan January 2026
Alfie Bavidge ST Aberdeen 11 April 2006 Aberdeen 1 August 2025 Loan 31 May 2026
Chanka Zimba ST 29 December 2001 Marine 1 August 2025 Free 31 May 2026

League Goalscorers

(As of match played 13 December 2025, vs. Hamilton)

Rank Player Goals
1st Alfie Bavidge 5
2nd David Wotherspoon 4
Chanka Zimba
3rd Luis Longstaff 3
Billy Mckay
Liam Sole
4th Calum MacLeod 2
Mitchell Robertson
5th Paul Allan 1
Alfie Stewart
Danny Devine
Adam Mackinnon

Overall Goalscorers

(As of match played 16 December 2025, vs. Dumbarton)

Rank Player Goals
1st Alfie Bavidge 14
2nd Chanka Zimba 13
3rd Billy Mckay 10
4th Luis Longstaff 8
5th David Wotherspoon 5
Mitchell Robertson
Calum MacLeod
Liam Sole
6th Paul Allan 4
7th Alfie Stewart 2
Jordan Alonge
Adam Mackinnon
8th Robbie Thompson 1
Ross Millen
Danny Devine

Hat-tricks

Player Competition Score Opponent Date
Chanka Zimba Scottish Challenge Cup League Phase 4–1 Aberdeen B 26 August 2025
Chanka Zimba Scottish Challenge Cup League Phase 6–0 Dundee United B 11 November 2025
Alfie Bavidge4 Scottish Challenge Cup First round 9–0 Dumbarton 17 December 2025

Transfers

Transfers In
Player Age* Pos From Fee Date Notes
Logan Ross 21 GK Ross County Free 16 June 2025
Ross Munro 25 GK Falkirk Free 17 June 2025
Joe Chalmers 31 MF Dunfermline Athletic Free 18 June 2025
Ross Millen 30 DF Morecambe Free 19 June 2025
David Wotherspoon 35 ST Dunfermline Athletic Free 24 June 2025
Jordan Alonge 26 MF Forres Mechanics Free 3 July 2025
Oscar MacIntyre 20 DF Hibernian Free 25 July 2025
Chanka Zimba 23 ST Marine Free 1 August 2025
Transfers Out
Player Age* Pos To Fee Date Notes
Lewis Nicolson 21 DF Retired N/A 22 May 2025 [7]
Ethan Cairns 20 ST Inverurie Loco Works Free 31 May 2025
Musa Dibaga 25 GK Crusaders Free 1 June 2025
Loans In & Returnees
Player Age* Pos From Duration Date In Date Out Notes
Sam Nixon 18 DF Forres Mechanics Return 1 July 2025 N/A
Liam Sole 25 ST Livingston Half Season 7 July 2025 January 2026
Alfie Stewart 18 MF Aberdeen Half Season 15 July 2025 January 2026
Alfie Bavidge 19 ST Aberdeen Season 1 August 2025 31 May 2026
Mitchell Robertson 20 DF Celtic Season 1 August 2025 31 May 2026
Shae Keogh 18 ST Brora Rangers Return 18 October 2025 N/A Recalled due to injury
Ben Gardiner 17 ST Brora Rangers Return 11 October 2025 N/A
Loans Out & Returns
Player Age* Pos To Duration Date Out Date In Notes
Connall Ewan 19 DF Ross County Return 1 July 2025 N/A
James Nolan 19 DF Manchester United Return 1 July 2025 N/A
Alfie Stewart 18 MF Aberdeen Return 1 July 2025 N/A
Keith Bray 19 MF Dunfermline Athletic Return 1 July 2025 N/A
Ben Brannan 18 DF Kilmarnock Return 1 July 2025 N/A
Sam Nixon 19 DF Forres Mechanics Half Season 6 August 2025 January 2026
Shae Keogh 18 ST Brora Rangers Half Season 20 August 2025 18 October 2025 Recalled due to injury
Ben Gardiner 17 ST Brora Rangers Half Season 22 August 2025 11 October 2025
Robbie Thompson 21 MF Brora Rangers Half Season 6 September 2025 January 2026
Jack Walker 19 DF Brora Rangers Half Season 11 October 2025 January 2026
Ben Corner 18 ST Clachnacuddin Half Season 23 October 2025 January 2026
Ben Gardiner 18 ST Clachnacuddin Half Season 31 October 2025 January 2025

*at time of transfer

References

  1. ^ "League One survival up there with Scottish Cup triumph, says Caley Jags head coach". Inverness Courier. 2025-04-26. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
  2. ^ "League One Table". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  3. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Summary - League Cup". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  6. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Caley Thistle youngster steps away from football due to injuries". Inverness Courier. 2025-05-22. Retrieved 2025-05-22.