Former Newcastle United striker once bought for £8m is sacked from struggling club amid financial crisis

Former Newcastle United and Everton striker Duncan Ferguson has been sacked as manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle after a difficult 13-month stint with the struggling Scottish side.

The seven-time Scotland international, who had been working for free for several weeks due to a financial crisis, told BBC Sport reporters that he and two coaches had been let go by the club after they entered administration.

Other players and staff are expected to hear if they still have jobs with the Scottish League One club later this week in an uncertain time for the Highlands based side.

Ferguson took charge of Inverness in September 2023 at a time when the club were bottom of the Scottish Championship and winless in their opening six games under previous boss Billy Dodds. 

He was unable to turn the team’s fortunes around and was narrowly relegated in the play-offs after a tightly-fought 5-3 defeat to Hamilton Academical across two legs.

The former Newcastle forward picked up two wins, six draws and two defeats at the start of this season in a difficult period which was marred by financial uncertainty. 

This would have been enough for the team to sit comfortably in mid-table had it not been for a 15-point deduction which came as a result of administration. As it stands, they sit on -3 points, with a guaranteed -5 points at the start of next season regardless of which division they compete in.

Duncan Ferguson’s career so far

Former Rangers and Everton striker Duncan Ferguson joined Newcastle for £8m in November 1998 and was one of the first signings of the Ruud Gullit era. 

The 1995 FA Cup winner scored twice on his debut against Wimbledon just days later, but would only play seven more games for Newcastle that season due to a hernia injury.

Ferguson did, however, appear as a substitute in a 2-0 extra time victory over Tottenham in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final and in the 2-0 loss to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium.

He scored six goals in 23 matches under Bobby Robson the following season before returning to Goodison Park with Everton in 2000.

After his retirement in 2006, he remained a part of the coaching setup with the Toffees for years to come - working as reserve team coach, first team coach, assistant boss and even interim manager for a brief period.

His only other venture into management came with Forest Green Rovers in League One, but lasted just 18 matches as he managed just one win with the Gloucestershire side.