Miley Cyrus song inspired Inverness Caley Thistle in climb up the table

Inverness Caledonian Thistle's Billy Mckay claps his hands as he leaves a pitch while it pours with rain.Image source, SNS
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Inverness Caledonian Thistle has faced tough challenges in recent months

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Inverness Caledonian Thistle head coach Scott Kellacher says a Miley Cyrus song has played a part in helping the club through a "rollercoaster" 10 months.

Since October, the club has faced the threat of liquidation because of its debts, and potential relegation from League One last season.

But last week, Inverness celebrated exiting administration, and it would be top of the league if not for a five-point deduction it received as part of its punishment for getting into financial difficulty.

Kellacher believes some of the team's success has been thanks to a pre-match ritual of playing Cyrus' hit The Climb, a pop-country power ballad about never giving up to realise a dream.

The singer Miley Cyrus is at a glamour music event and is framed by two bright lights that are just out of focus in the background. She has her hair slicked back and is smiling as she looks off into the distance. She is wearing a shiny black outfit with gold trim on the neck.Image source, AFP via Getty Images
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The Climb was written for Miley Cyrus in 2009

Kellacher, August's League One manager of the month, external, told BBC Scotland News he came across the US singer's song - written for the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie - while listening to music on one of his walks.

He said: "I just listened to the words and how they sort of fitted in to what the club is all about, and what we are trying to do.

"I played it to the boys one day in the dressing room before a game and it went down really well.

"I was really pleased because they understood the meaning of the song and we just used that as our song going forward.

"That's what we are trying to do - climb up the table, trying to get back to where we should be."

Scott Kellacher is dressed in black football training kit and a black waterproof jacket. He is standing at the byline of a football pitch, shouting instructions to football players, who are out of shot. Out of focus behind Kellacher is a stand of the football ground with some spectators.Image source, SNS
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Scott Kellacher was named League One's manager of the month for August

Kellacher added: "It's been a roller coaster."

"We're going to have upsets along the way, but we've got to keep going."

Caley Thistle is fighting for promotion to the Championship after being relegated from Scottish football's second tier in May 2024.

Last season, the club faced the risk of dropping into League Two due to a 15-point deduction after entering administration in October, but it managed to finish the season in seventh place.

The club started the current season on minus five points as a further penalty for its financial woes.

But after five wins from six games it is in second place - one point behind league leaders Stenhousemuir.

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