Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has appointed the former chief executive of the UK professional basketball league as the man to drive forward the SPL's most northerly club.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC has appointed the former chief executive of the UK professional basketball league as the man to drive forward the SPL's most northerly club.

Chartered accountant Mike Smith, whose previous football post was at Aston Villa, has been appointed as ICT's first Chief Executive and will take up post from June 1.

Mike Smith was chief executive of Basketball League Ltd for 14 years until last year and was responsible for the strategic development and operational management of the professional league and its member clubs. His role included commercial income generation and dealing with sponsorship, TV and major events contracts. Prior to that he was Head of Events at Birmingham City Council, managing the UK's largest events department, staging high profile international events in the arts, sport and general entertainment. He opened and managed the Aston Villa FA Leisure Centre, combining commercial activity with community use of sports facilities.

Before moving in to the leisure industry, Mr Smith was a taxation and audit accountant and later company secretary of a computer firm. He and his wife moved to Inverness last year when his wife, Jackie Cuddy, was appointed Manager of the Eastgate Centre shopping mall.

ICT chairman Ken Mackie commented: "We were delighted with the high calibre of applicants for this job, it is testimony to how far this club has come." He added "We have appointed Mike Smith because he has a fine track record both in finance and in leisure. In the present state of football in Scotland, it's important for our leading employee to be on top of the financial position and Mike's accountancy expertise will be of great value."

Ken added "He will have responsibility for all aspects of the club, including financial, administration, marketing and staffing, and he will report directly to the board."

Mr Smith commented: "I've been very impressed by what the club has achieved this year and I hope my background will enable me to work with the directors and staff to drive ICT further forward. My priority will be the business side of things, leaving the football operation to Director of Football Graeme Bennett and the football management staff. The success of this club in its first SPL season, coupled with the stadium enhancement, offers me a very sound basis on which to tackle the job."