Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Billy Dodds named head coach on two-year deal
- Published
Billy Dodds assisted interim manager Neil McCann at Inverness CT in the final months of last season
Inverness Caledonian Thistle's new head coach Billy Dodds says he has been "ready for a long time" to lead a club.
Dodds, 52, has signed a two-year deal at the Championship side where he spent the final two months of last season as assistant to interim boss Neil McCann.
Previous manager John Robertson has become sporting director after returning from compassionate leave.
"I've been a big part of clubs as a number two," said Dodds, who takes charge of a team for the first time.
"I have plans that I want to do and I am my own man now. I will make my own decisions and I am thrilled to be here.
"Coming in for those six/seven weeks was brilliant for me. You see the type of player that is here, we know the pathway to where we are hopefully going and that gave me my appetite."
Dodds has served as assistant at Dundee United, Queen of the South, Dundee and Ross County.
The ex-Dundee, Aberdeen, United and Rangers forward also had a stint as caretaker manager at Tannadice in 2006.
Having worked as a BBC Scotland pundit, Dodds returned to coaching with Inverness CT in March as the Highlands club finished fifth to miss out on the Premiership play-offs.
Chief executive officer Scot Gardiner said Dodds was the club's "initial favourite" for the role following that spell, but that three other "excellent candidates" were interviewed.
Dodds says he will have the "final say" over new signings, adding: "But I would crazy not to go and ask John Robertson, who is a football man, and we will be working together to look at players and come up with targets."