text: John Hughes has revealed how he came within a heartbeat of stepping down from his job at Inverness as the Josh Meekings controversy went into overdrive this week. The Caley Thistle boss says he felt so repulsed by the gut-wrenching predicament being endured by his young defender - before he was dramatically cleared - that he was ready to walk away from his post and the games he loves, just weeks before an historic Scottish Cup Final date. Keen cyclist Hughes set off on a lonely bike ride after hearing Meekings had been cited for the handball missed by officials in the semi-final against Celtic, and admits his head was in a spin over an affair that has dominated the back-page headlines since last Sunday. Inverness defender Josh Meekings will be allowed to appear in Scottish Cup final after his ban was dismissed . Only messages of support awaiting him on his return from footballing friends brought him back from the brink of quitting. Hughes, who lives in the Black Isle just north of Inverness, said: ‘I came in here this morning after a day off. I turned my phone off and was away myself, away out on the bike with plenty of thinking time: a great freedom of mind. ‘I was that sick of what has been going on in Scottish football I was seriously contemplating my own future. I’m serious when I say that. ‘I had just had it up to here and was ready to just give it up. If it wasn’t for what happened when I turned my phone back on, with the phone calls and texts I received from people I really value in football, that my spirits picked up again. ‘The calls and texts came in from all over the place, from some of the highest levels across the game. I’ve had phone calls that have really got me back on my feet. ‘I wouldn’t like to name them all, but there were a lot of good people and a good few close friends in the football fraternity. Meekings was not sent off and no penalty was given as Inverness went on to beat Celtic 3-2 after extra-time . ‘They were saying: “You need to lead from the front, you need to fight it.” That restored and galvanised that focus and drive in me. And, if that was how I was feeling, how was the boy Josh Meekings feeling? It should never have come to this.’ Meekings was cleared to play in the final by the Judicial Panel yesterday, but Hughes insists this ‘unprecedented’ SFA wrangle must be the catalyst for change in Scottish football’s governance. Although those who sit on the panel are drawn from many walks of life, ranging from former players and coaches to ex-refs and members of the legal profession, Hughes said he wants ‘real football people’ drafted in instead of the ‘suits’ he claims lack understanding of the nuances and spirit of the professional game. And he seemed to point a thinly-veiled finger of accusation at SFA chief executive Stewart Regan by alleging that compliance officer Tony McGlennan was a mere ‘patsy’ in the process. Overwhelmed by a huge upswell of support for Meekings, he said: ‘No disrespect to those sitting on [the judicial panel], but you need football guys and that’s where it’s flawed. That’s why I promised myself I’d never go back down there until that gets sorted out. ‘The last time I appeared was when I was down at Livingston. It was quite galling. You have to be qualified in what you’re judging on. There’s no one better qualified than ex-players and ex-coaches. For some reason the SFA don’t want to go down that line. Why? ‘I couldn’t tell you who I sat in front of while at Livingston, but they weren’ t football people. I’m talking about playing the game, managing the game, coaching the game. John Hughes was ready to walk away from his post and the games he loves . ‘There are hundreds of these guys I’m quite sure would go in there and do it, for the sake of football. We need to use this to make sure the whole process work better. Josh’s case was unprecedented. How was that? Somebody needs to explain that to me. ‘I know the verdict has gone in our favour but I don’t think this is finished. We need to sit down and look at the Judicial Panel process. ‘I don’t believe in the Panel. I promised myself a couple of years ago I wouldn’ t walk back into Hampden until it changes. I would never question their integrity but I want football people sitting in judgment. ‘They are making a football decision and I want football people. Look at what is at stake. Here we were talking about a young player’s chance of playing in a Scottish Cup final. I’d be more confident with football people because they know the game. ‘The compliance officer is damned if he does, damned if doesn’t. Is he getting used as a patsy in all this? I honestly don’t know. ‘How far do you take it? We’re opening a whole can of worms here. We had a strong claim for a penalty when the goalkeeper comes through the back of Edward Ofere. Where do you draw the line? ‘It’s unheard of, but I honestly think there’s a little bit more to it. We can use this whole episode to make it better.’ Hughes, who accepted Meekings would have warranted a red card had the ref spotted the offence, refused to point a finger of blame at former club Celtic for the letter of complaint they wrote to the SFA in the aftermath. ‘Celtic keep getting flung into it, but I came in here this morning and all Kristine, our receptionist, says to me is that the phone had never stopped ringing with Celtic supporters wishing Josh all the best and hoping he plays in the final. ‘I believe that comes right from the top at Celtic. They conduct themselves in a great manner. I had the privilege to play for that club and everything they do is class. ‘What I will say is, in Scotland, we put people up on a pedestal. We love it. It’s our character. And we love knocking them down again. ‘But see when there has been an injustice, one thing we do in Scotland is show a real solidarity to make sure we get it right. ‘That’s what I’m finding about the whole of Scottish football in the reaction to this. There’s a real coming together as they all recognise this is not right. ‘I have to be the voice of Inverness. I’m not really saying [all] that I really want to say. I’m trying to be calculated and honest. I think there’s more to say. There’s more to it.’
target: Inverness defender Josh Meekings has won appeal against one-match ban .
  The 22-year-old was offered one-game suspension following incident .
  However, an independent judicial panel tribunal overturned decision .
  Inverness reached the Scottish Cup final with 3-2 win over Celtic .