BILLY Dodds tonight expressed hope that reaching the Scottish Cup semi-final will give Inverness Caledonian Thistle a huge financial lift following his side’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock.Sean Welsh and his team mates booked a last four date at Hampden this evening with a deserved quarter-final victory over Derek McInnes’s side.
The Championship outfit conceded a goal to Kyle Vassell in the second minute – but fought back and won thanks to a first-half Billy McKay penalty and a second-half Welsh strike.
The Highland outfit announced last week that they had made losses of £835,751 in the past financial year.
Dodds hugged chairman Ross Morrison, who celebrated his birthday today, after the final whistle and then stated that reaching the semi-final would bolster Caley Thistle’s coffers.
“You’d be better asking the chairman but it will help,” he said. “I said we’d love to help, but I didn’t want to burden the players with it and it will certainly help on that front.
“I know the figure that came out but I don’t know what the finances are - but it will certainly help them.
“I had a hug with the chairman afterwards, it was his birthday. I told him to enjoy the Livingston game and then I told him to enjoy tonight - and I’ll tell him to enjoy the semi now too.
“I don’t know if the semis are still pooled so it doesn’t matter about getting a money-spinner. There’s a route there to get to the final but Ayr or Falkirk will want us too.”
Dodds added: “The boys should be proud of beating two Premiership teams. We have beaten Livingston twice this season and Davie Martindale was brilliant after the game and Derek was the same tonight.
“We took St Johnstone close in the play-offs as well last season, so we have showed we have players who can play at that level. This is the first time nearly every one of them will be in a semi at Hampden.
"There were times where I stood off the game and said we're playing well. We worked ever so hard, got close to Kilmarnock and forced them into some long balls.
"We created some wonderful chances. I would have loved it to have been easier - a two-goal lead going into the last couple of minutes. I knew Derek's team would throw everything at us, but I felt calm.
“I was comfortable with my players. I have always said they're a special bunch. They always find a way and they did again tonight.”
