Duncan Ferguson blasts Arbroath for 'downing tools on club and manager' as Inverness boss rages

Duncan Ferguson has accused Arbroath’s players of “downing tools on their club and manager” after relegation was confirmed.

And the Everton legend reckons the Red Lichties’ disinterest in the remainder of the campaign will make Caley Thistle’s survival quest all the harder. Previously, the Inverness manager had predicted his team would need three wins from the last five matches to secure safety. Now, with Arbroath still to face relegation rivals Morton and Queen’s Park, Ferguson feels his team needs FOUR.

The former Rangers and Scotland striker gave a withering blast at Jim McIntyre’s men while assessing the likelihood of them putting up much of a fight in those matches. Preparing for a Friday night visit of Raith Rovers, Ferguson said: “I am confident we can complete the job and achieve safety, but you can never be 100 per cent certain as there are still nine points to play for. We are certainly in a good place after two successful wins. We need to continue that.

“I did say recently we needed three wins, but I’d say now we probably still need two wins out of the last three because Arbroath are in the pot. Arbroath are getting turned over now, which is a big problem for us. Morton play Arbroath this Saturday, while Queen’s Park still have to play them as well. We have to put that down as three points for Morton and Queen's Park.

“I see Arbroath basically having downed tools on their club and on their manager. I didn’t watch the whole of their game against Ayr, but when you see the result - five - I’m thinking, ‘it is just our luck, isn’t it’?

“We had Arbroath up here when they were fighting for their lives. We probably relegated them. The next week, it has gone. Teams around about us are playing Arbroath and we’re putting three points on those teams’ tally already because we don’t think Arbroath are going to try a leg from now until the end of the season.

“We feel Arbroath won’t pick up any more points, which will cost us in the run-in. You can see from Arbroath’s result (5-0 against Ayr United) where their heads are at and how they’re not trying for their club or their manager.

“Hopefully I’m wrong, but we’re looking at it that Arbroath will not win another point, so that’s going to cost us in the league. That means we need to make sure we get another couple of wins at least.”