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Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker Billy McKay is having talks at Wigan Athletic on Wednesday after the two clubs agreed a deal believed to be in the region of £150,000.
The Northern Ireland international – who has 10 goals in all competitions this season, including five in his last five games – is out of contract in the summer and Inverness manager John Hughes had resigned himself to losing his top scorer.
Speaking earlier this month, Hughes, said: “He is out of contract and, if another team is doubling his wages, he is going to go as we can’t match that.”
Caley Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron said: “Billy has never hidden his ambition to compete at the highest possible level and has always conducted himself in a professional manner in this regard.
“We are grateful to Wigan Athletic for the courtesy shown in speaking to us before opening their discussions with the player.”
McKay was brought to Inverness by Terry Butcher in 2011 and has been the club’s top scorer for the last two seasons, scoring 62 goals in 141 games. He has made nine appearances for his country.
Wigan, who are currently second from bottom of the Championship, are poised to sell winger Callum McManaman to West Brom for £4.75m while Shaun Maloney has left the DW stadium for MLS outfit Chicago Fire.
From Sky Sports
Inverness fans view courtesy of los amigos
Will Billy Mckay (it’s a small ‘k’, by the way) be a success at Wigan Athletic? That depends on how much of a step up going from the Scottish Premiership to the English Championship is. But the Latics have signed one of the best strikers in Scottish football; Mckay has scored 59 goals in the last two and a half seasons, more than anyone else in our top flight during that period.
I wouldn’t have said that in the summer of 2012, however. His first season in the Highlands after joining from Northampton Town was pretty unimpressive, though not helped by an injury that wrecked his pre-season. Once he had broken into the team, he managed just three goals in the entire campaign, and at one point went sixteen games without scoring. The decision by manager Terry Butcher to give him a two year deal that summer was a surprise at the time, but he clearly knew something we didn’t, as 2012-13 saw him hit the goal trail spectacularly.
The crucial difference was a dramatic increase in the quality of service he was getting. After all, he’s only 5ft 7in, and we were playing him as a lone striker; pumping high balls up to him is no use. Whilst his link-up play in deeper areas is decent enough, there’s no question that Mckay is at his best when he is in the final third and facing goal. His movement off the ball is terrific, with a speed of thought matched by a rapid acceleration over 5-10 metres. This allows him to shake off his marker, and is why, despite his size, he still manages to score with his head every so often, generally having found a gap between defenders.
Like all but the most elite of strikers, Mckay is confidence-dependent; he is prone to dips in form which inevitably lead to droughts. His attitude remains excellent during these periods, and his work-rate will be as high as ever, but his finishing, especially in one-on-ones, will become erratic. He needs his manager to stick by him in these periods; he’s played in every league match for three years (which also tells you something about his durability).
A lot of players have left Scottish football for the English Championship in recent years; some have succeeded, but many have failed. Will Mckay make the cut? My worry is that the step up in quality will be too big. Our league is full of big, lumbering centre backs that the Northern Irishman could leave for dead, but now he’ll be up against guys who are just as strong, but can match his pace; they might also be more tuned to his off-the-ball movement. But he’s certainly earned the right to give it a shot, and he leaves Inverness with our best wishes.
Inverness fans view courtesy of los amigosWill Billy Mckay (it’s a small ‘k’, by the way) be a success at Wigan Athletic? That depends on how much of a step up going from the Scottish Premiership to the English Championship is. But the Latics have signed one of the best strikers in Scottish football; Mckay has scored 59 goals in the last two and a half seasons, more than anyone else in our top flight during that period.
I wouldn’t have said that in the summer of 2012, however. His first season in the Highlands after joining from Northampton Town was pretty unimpressive, though not helped by an injury that wrecked his pre-season. Once he had broken into the team, he managed just three goals in the entire campaign, and at one point went sixteen games without scoring. The decision by manager Terry Butcher to give him a two year deal that summer was a surprise at the time, but he clearly knew something we didn’t, as 2012-13 saw him hit the goal trail spectacularly.
The crucial difference was a dramatic increase in the quality of service he was getting. After all, he’s only 5ft 7in, and we were playing him as a lone striker; pumping high balls up to him is no use. Whilst his link-up play in deeper areas is decent enough, there’s no question that Mckay is at his best when he is in the final third and facing goal. His movement off the ball is terrific, with a speed of thought matched by a rapid acceleration over 5-10 metres. This allows him to shake off his marker, and is why, despite his size, he still manages to score with his head every so often, generally having found a gap between defenders.
Like all but the most elite of strikers, Mckay is confidence-dependent; he is prone to dips in form which inevitably lead to droughts. His attitude remains excellent during these periods, and his work-rate will be as high as ever, but his finishing, especially in one-on-ones, will become erratic. He needs his manager to stick by him in these periods; he’s played in every league match for three years (which also tells you something about his durability).
A lot of players have left Scottish football for the English Championship in recent years; some have succeeded, but many have failed. Will Mckay make the cut? My worry is that the step up in quality will be too big. Our league is full of big, lumbering centre backs that the Northern Irishman could leave for dead, but now he’ll be up against guys who are just as strong, but can match his pace; they might also be more tuned to his off-the-ball movement. But he’s certainly earned the right to give it a shot, and he leaves Inverness with our best wishes.
Problem imo
He’s the same as every other striker we’ve signed and haven’t played to their strength, then they’ve been blamed or shipped out or binned in the reservesI’ll stick my neck out and say that if this transfer comes off then he will get goals.Why ? because he will be a hardened cookie who wont fear the winter,stud down calfs and he can finish.£150000 sounds like a steal given the lumps weve wasted on foreign imports.
If we play to his strengths he might, if we play him how we have been doing he wont, as per the above, it’s that simple. It’s the same scenario of all those gone and failed before him.
Liking studs down his calf and a bit of snow won’t make him what we need.
Good luck to the lad with support up front and facing the goal he may just be the kind of player that could do a great job for us.
.Once he had broken into the team, he managed just three goals in the entire campaign, and at one point went sixteen games without scoring.
The crucial difference was a dramatic increase in the quality of service he was getting.
Like all but the most elite of strikers, Mckay is confidence-dependent; he is prone to dips in form which inevitably lead to droughts.
Will Mckay make the cut? My worry is that the step up in quality will be too big.
Good luck Billy , you’ll fookin need it
Good luck to the lad with support up front and facing the goal he may just be the kind of player that could do a great job for us.I agree Donny, but so would Waghorn, Fortune, Delort, Reira, Holt, Boselli, Scotland etc etc etfuckingcetera.
Hopefully he won’t just become another failed striker to add to the long list.
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