Caley Thistle supporters are frustrated about the scheduling of next month’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic.
The game will be played at Hampden on Sunday, April 19 with a 12.15pm kick-off, severely limiting transport options available to supporters.
It’s not the first time supporters have been made to suffer.
Last season’s League Cup semi-final against Hearts was a Sunday lunch-time match at Easter Road in Edinburgh while the final, against Aberdeen at Parkhead, kicked off at 2.30pm.
Davie Balfour, chairman of the Caley Jags Together group, feels his club has been shown a lack of respect for the third time in little more a year.
Balfour said: “It makes it as logistically difficult to travel as the last time, and the time before that.
“It would have been nice if some awareness of that had been shown, but it doesn’t appear to have happened.
“It’s frustrating, and for it to happen for a third time borders on being disrespectful.
“We were only able to get trains for the League Cup final against Aberdeen through the help of Highland Council, and I can’t see them doing that again.
“For the Hearts semi-final last year we had every available bus for a reasonable price, although there are a limited number of coaches in the Highlands.
“Going by the number of buses we talked about last time, 20 was the best we could get. That’s going to get 1,000 people to the game, and anybody else would have to get to the game by other means.”
Fellow Inverness supporter David Sutherland feels this is an example of broadcasters being given preferential treatment over loyal supporters and said: “I am not exactly surprised, but a little disappointed. Asking Inverness supporters to travel down from Inverness to get to the south side of Glasgow for a 12.15pm kick-off is not very considerate.
“I think it’s a case of the SFA bowing to Sky Sports’ wishes. If Sky wanted the game at 4am, it would probably be at 4am.
“They pay their money, and seem to get priority over the wishes and concerns of the supporters.”
Despite the unfavourable scheduling, Caley Thistle manager John Hughes is certain his side’s supporters will make their presence felt and said: “They were fantastic last year. They will not be defeated by travel and they’ll find a way to get there.
“It’s not a dampener, this match is something to look forward to for everyone connected with the club.”