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Dear Mr Cameron,

As I'm sure you are aware, with the impending liquidation of Rangers FC not too far away and the highly likely prospect that you and the other chairman of the remaining SPL clubs will vote on the matter as to whether to allow a "NewCo Rangers" to join the SPL. As you know, the fans are almost completely of the opinion that a NewCo Rangers, should they be allowed to join the league system, should start at the bottom of the ladder in the Third Division, just as the newly formed Caledonian Thistle FC had to do back in 1994.

Mr Cameron, vote for the wishes of the fans. Vote for dignity. Vote for justice. Vote against an organisation that has exploited sectarianism and bigotry for it's own gain. Vote against a NewCO of a club that has stolen millions to buy itself success. Vote for you to be seen as a man and ICT as a club, who said NO.

Mr Cameron, vote NO to NewCo.

Yours sincerely,

Renegade
ICT Season Ticket Holder

Celtic may have beaten us 4 -2 on the park but their supporters beat us 10 - 0 on the terraces. Surely we must have the worst home fans in the league and you can see how badly it affects the team; they are scared stiff of making mistakes and receiving a torrent of abuse from the so-called support. In the match thread I said I think the players lack confidence and to be honest, a significant part of that is that they are worried about getting abuse when things don't go right. The crowd do precious little to lift the team but plenty to let the team know that they do not meet the fan's often unrealistic expectations.

Take two examples from today. One of the guys sat next to me got to his feet after Celtic's 2nd goal and let rip with a tirade of vitriolic abuse aimed at Terry Butcher. When we scored our goals he simply sat in his seat and didn't even clap. He generally mumped and moaned about what was on display and never once as far as I was aware clapped or uttered any words of encouragement. And amongst the general moaning behind me were comments during a passage of play when we were keeping possession well but not making progress. "F***ing do something with it" was the shout from behind. No sooner had that advice been given than Morrison, I think it was, tried to put the ball over the defence for Andrew Shinnie to run on - it nearly came off but was well cut out and the same voice shouts out, "for f***'s sake don't give it away!"

Just what do these people want and expect? We're not Barcelona and if we try anything other than the safe ball it will come off less often than it doesn't. Today we were up against the league champions and their side is stuffed with internationals and sometimes balls don't find their intended target because very good defenders read the situation and do their job well. Let's give them credit for that. And let's give our team credit for trying to play football against Celtic rather than being boring like County and simply stopping them playing and having no ambition.

Do these people ever stop to think about what the impact is on the players? Presumably not. How do they think that players feel when they hear more noise in shouts of frustration and abuse when they make an error than they hear in applause and shouts of encouragement when they play a 30 yard pass inch perfect to a team mate? Well, it doesn't make them feel confident and appreciated that's for sure. Believe me, I get just as frustrated as anyone, even angry, when players make basic errors but I respond by silently cursing to my self, rolling my eyes or shaking my head or the like - I don't voice my feelings at the player but will make a point of clapping and shouting encouragement when they next get the ball and use it well.

This thread is about small crowds and the concern that some folk no longer come to watch the team. To be honest, it would be a good thing if some who still come along on a Saturday afternoon started staying away. That might mean that those who actually support the team might have more of an influence on the mood of the crowd as a whole and the team will respond to a more positive atmosphere in the ground. That in turn might encourage others to start supporting the team and take the place of the moaners.

Now I expect there will be those who will have a go at me saying that they pay good money and can expect to see better entertainment and have a right to make their views known. I would agree with that but the way to do that is to express your views on this forum or directly to the club if you are that angry. On match days, the players really need the support and encouragement of the fans and it really makes me angry that so many who turn up seem to do their best to abuse and discourage the team. They fail to understand that far from venting their anger at what they see as the problem, they are actually part of the problem themselves.

I think I am right in saying there are signs at the gates referring to "home support". That is for peope who will support the home team, not people who apparently want the home team to win but who abuse rather than support them. Perhaps there should be signs at the gates directing those who are going to shout abuse at the home team to the South Stand because the only team that benefits from the way some of the paying customers in the main and North stands behave is the away team.

Apologies for the length of this rant but I really am getting well and truly p***ed off by the behaviour of some of the people who pay to watch our team but who undermine the confidence of the team and ruin the matchday experience for others. By all means criticise the team as much as you want on this forum but for Christ's sake, on a match day give the team what they so desparately need - support! How f***ing difficult is that?

Caught on video, his "downfall". 

 

http://meemsy.com/v/5592

Sunday sees the final game of Caley Thistle’s best ever season, and if you don’t know where it is or what’s at stake you must have been in the space station with that Canadian chap. Tickets for our end are selling like hot cakes as you would imagine, people are buzzing and the game is being broadcast on Sky. It’s as high as profile gets in Scotland. We are on course for Europe with a win, so please wear your holiday costumes. Anyone who has a sombrero please feel free to dig it out of the cupboard and wear the thing. There will be inflatables and beach balls for all. If we don’t qualify we will be disappointed but we can still celebrate our most successful season ever.

 

Of course having a party doesn’t imply going daft. Please - no pyrotechnics, no chanting about you know what’s and please try not to lob either yourself or anything else on the pitch whilst people are running about on it. And no streaking for God’s sake - it's only May. The Council have decided that no licenced premises will be open in Dingwall before the game, so if you are there early (especially off the train) please respect the locals and the fact that their places of worship will be open before ours is. At least the Caley Club in Greig Street will be open after the game and there will be a ceilidh band playing - Full Tilt Brian tells me, and hopefully it sounds like grounds for celebration. Brian also tells me that bus tickets are on sale at the Caley Club on Saturday between 2 and 3 - get down there and buy them so you won't be disappointed.

 

I know that, banter aside, our rivals will wish us all the best if we qualify for Europe on Sunday and I’ll take this opportunity to congratulate them on a magnificent first SPL season. Both sides will have a support that does the Highlands proud on Sunday, we’re sure of that.

 

The nation will be watching, so let's show them how to have a good time.

 

Davie Balfour

Caley Jags Together

 

We are where we are, not everyone is in agreement as to how it happened, whether or not it should have happened and if it was avoidable...but right now, that matters not.

The points on the board are fixed, they are in the past, we can do nothing about them and every moment spent pondering over them is a moment less spent on getting us over the final hurdle and getting the one point we need to secure SPL status for next season.

It's a big ask, and it will be beyond some, but can we set aside all the other stuff and just get behind ICT until that objective is achieved?

I'm not asking anyone to support a manager, player, board member or anyone else they may have an issue with....I'm asking that everyone show support for the one thing that binds us all....Inverness Caledonain Thistle FC.

If you are able, then get along to the game on Wednesday night. I know some people are at the stage of not wishing to part with any more money and/or effort to watch the team this season, but if the fans aren't willing to step up to the plate when it's needed to do everything in their power to help and support ICT then who is?

If you aren't willing, then I ask that choose not to beat up on those who are just because they choose to be a little more positive, objective or supportive. If you want to brand such people as happy clappers, wearers of rose tinted specs, delusional or whatever....then can you please save it until the job is done (or not done and you can gloat and come back with all the "told you so's" you like).

If any of the players happen to be reading this, then I make the same plea to you. Forget everything up until now and put every moment of thought and preparation into giving Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC your best game when you take to the park against Dunfermline, and if it doesn't happen against Dunfermline then take it to St Mirren and if needs be on against Hibs.

ICT's biggest strength has always been that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Let us not be divided, let us not be conquered.

Pic from Sundays game showing the love the Caley fans have for Iain Vigurs

It is easily Saturday's for me. Nothing else has come even close. Infact I'm pretty sure that it's my favorite single goal since Paul Ritchie scored the 3rd vs St Johnstone.

 

It's our first ever Scottish Cup game against our biggest rivals, in Dingwall. Our fans had been singing all day and the atmosphere in our end was incredible. In contrast there was hardly a sound coming from the collection of traveling folk and farmers supposedly supporting the Highland's second team and we looked by far the better team. With 5 mins to go we are leading 2-1 and looking comfortable, job done, but then disaster strikes: Vigurs off all people scores with a huge deflection and in the third minute of injury time they get a dodgy free kick out wide which somehow we don't defend and they have put us out.

 

The shadows are delirious. Vigurs is the happiest man in Scotland (he has his revenge and he gleefully gestures to us all to show it). Adams is hugging everyone in in sight and jumping for joy (he's as happy as himself in his barn). And fecking Tokely, Ross Tokely 'club legend', a man upset at a wee bit off booing last month, is running around like he has won the Champions League, his joy at ICT's exit from the cup at the hands of county evident in his moronic grinning face.

 

Everyone is gutted, the look of delight on the gudgies faces is truly awful and the thought off heading back to the mallard for 2 hours until the next train is horrific. But then out of nowhere we have kicked off and OTJ has unleashed a strike from what seems like 40 yards out and we have a corner. 95 mins gone though so no chance surely? Yes chance. Corner comes in, someone heads it, Tokley has lost Foran, I can't see what the hell is is happening but the players are peeling away and the tinks are silent, OH MY GOD GOAL!!!!!

 

Bedlam in our stand, tears in the others. Tokely is truly devastated, Adams' daft wee baby face is contorted in pain and we are still in the cup.

 

THE HIGHLANDS ARE OURS! 

Whilst I am glad he's staying, I have to say this episode has been unsettling for the club.  Having two days of talks at another club hardly gives his out of contract (or indeed his in contract) players a message of loyalty to them or the club just as we launch into the January transfer window.  Togetherness has been the watchword this year and we need to maintain that if we are going to achieve what our current league position and place in the cups suggests we just might. 

 

By talking to Barnsley over two days, Terry gave a message to his players that he was seriously thinking of leaving them just when they've come so far.  The players in turn can be excused if they also look to pastures new.  He should have rejected the approach sooner.  To me, the important thing now is that he appears to have undone the damage by committing himself to the end of his contract which means that not only will he be here to the end of this season but to the end of next season as well.  That commitment should be enough to persuade players to sign on for next season to continue the journey.  Let's hope that some contracts will be signed in the next few days.

 

Had he been off talking to a St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Motherwell or something then you might have a point.  However, for me, this has been far from unsettling, the total opposite in fact.

 

We've just had our Manager get an offer from a club who could offer him many times the salary he could ever get here and a player budget that could fund half the SPL.  I don't know of any Manager who wouldn't have had their head turned by such an offer.

 

Despite all that he chose ICT!!!

 

We've just had more publicity than money could buy and the message at the end of it is....ICT don't have much, but they must be something really special if a man like Terry Butcher would rather be there on less money and with a smaller budget.  Terry has just done more in two days to help shake of the "small town backwater" tag that is often applied to us than anything else that has happened in the last 19 years.

 

The message he has just given the players is exactly the same...."lads, it's ok to look but its not all about the money, there's things to be earned here that money cannot buy".

Don't know about others but I was very disappointed with Kenny Cameron's statement. To me there seemed to be a clear message that whilst the strong feeling of supporters was acknowledged, this was to be first and foremost a business decision on what the Board consider best for the club and Scottish football. It sounds as though the Board has been listening too much to Green who has asked Boards to make a business decision when they vote on July 4th.

Let's be clear. This is not about business. Business is about making money and giving shareholders a return on their investment. Since when have any shareholders in ICT ever expected a return on their investment? Shareholders in ICT have put money into the club to help bring a standard of football to Inverness that they and the rest of the paying public want to see. Our return on investment is entertainment and hopefully success on the park. There will be no entertainment if ICT play Rangers newco because nobody will be there to watch the game.

It may be that the Board is persuaded that an SPL without Rangers will not be in the best financial interests of the club, but so what? If that is the case then it will be the responsibility of the Board to cut expenditure to match any loss in revenue. That is a small price to pay to behave in a principled way by saying "no" to a newco that has absolutely no right to a place in the SPL.

I was also very disappointed to hear that there had been a full and frank exchange of views in discussions between the club and the Supporters' Trust. That suggests that there were clearly differing views. But why were there discussions in the first place? There is nothing to discuss. Rangers newco is a club that has never played a game of football in its existance. It must start at the bottom like we and everybody else did. We expect the club to vote "no" and we expect the club to make an official statement to that effect in the near future.

So, let's see....
Butcher was criticised for getting us relegated coz he played Tokely at centre-back. Tokely should also not play for ICT again as he's 4th, 5th and 6th choice as centre-back. He's too slow, too rash and cost us a number of goals. Tokely should also stay as he's a great centre-back. Proctor also must stay as he's ICT through and through, even though he only came back after failing elsewhere. Proctor is terrible and should never play for ICT again. Proctor will be a great signing for Ross County - we should never have let him go.

Butcher should never have signed Golabeck as he was past his best. He should also sign Duncan after Ross County decided he wasn't good enough for SFL1, so went to Peterhead. Munro needs to getaefeck as all he does is hoof-the-ball. Munro should have never been sold.

Buthcer has ripped out the heart of ICT by not keeping McBain, Golabeck, Hastings and all those others that were no longer SPL quality. Meanwhile, he can't replace them with any quality. Which is why Golobart was never player of the year, we're desperate to get rid of Tade, Gillet and Hayes and we're expecting nothing from A.Shinnie or Doran next season. David Davis. Another failure. As was Tansey, which is why Motherwell were after him. What would Stuart McCall know about potential?

Hayes would be better off going to a club where it will be almost impossible to get spotted, as long as it's in England. After all, anywhere in England is better than the SPL. Meanwhile, we should try to sign Black from Hearts and get Rooney on loan from Birmingham. Even though we're desperate for any players with a hint of quality not to sign for any other SPL clubs, we will also bemoan the lack of quality in the SPL.

We have no money yet should be able to sign a load of great players for free, whilst acknowledging we can't compete with other SPL clubs, both in terms of finance and location. The likes of Eagle, Stratford etc prove this, even though they cost very little and we went up first time of asking and almost achieved a top six finish. We also wasted a lot of money on Tuffey...who we should offer a new contract to.

However, we should forget about that as we were almost relegated this season, finishing only a mere 14 points above Dunfermline and beating a Hibs side that spent vastly more than us. Nevetheless, we should be playing more flowing football on a budget far below the Brazil-like Aberdeen, who finished far above us on two points more.

Butcher should play Ross, G.Shinnie and Sutherland more. CTO begged for G.Shinnie to be dropped after a dip in form, although he shouldn't have been dropped. Gillet should have been brought back earlier too. Although neither Shinnie or Gillet should be played out of position. So two left-backs then. Ross isn't strong enough to play regularly and should be loaned out. We should also build the team around him. Ross played 32 games this season. Ross also didn't play much this season. Sutherland should get his chance. Sutherland did and showed he isn't the answer. Why didn't Sutherland play more?

We should sign more Highland players, even though we don't know any capable of playing in the SPL. We should though look to the SFL, even though Tade wasn't SPL quality, which is why St Johnstone are after him and he rejected us. But we should take a chance on SFL players to get us some goals, apart from Rory McAllister as he wasn't any good as a teenager but is a superior goalscorer to anything in the SFL 2 or 3.

We should sack Butcher and get Robbo in, even though, in a vote, CTO voted for Butcher above Robbo. A more experienced manager is the answer, such as Jimmy Calderwood, Jim Jefferies or Bobby Williamson - all of whom aren't the solution. A young manager with potential should be brought in as long as he's experienced as we can't rely on untried managers. If you think Butcher deserves a chance after doing better than expected two seasons out of three, then you're a happy clapper thinking everything is rosy in the garden. If Butcher doesn't improve the club's fortunes, then he should never have been hired.

Just as long as we're being consistent here.

We are joint top of the league, for the next 24 hours, with 25 points and having scored 31 goals. We have never been in such a position in our history of SPL. We need you to get your butts of your couch and get out there and support us. This club has done wonders since its inception. Put your petty differences aside and support the 'Pride of the Highlands'.

The only positive I can take out of tonight is that I'm spared the need to attend any further games this season. An utterly dismal season from start to finish. I've not seen one decent performance this season and feel massively disillusioned by the whole ICT experience. I've dedicated a ridiculous amount of time, money and energy following the club over the years but unless there are some major changes this summer I seriously need to consider whether I can justify dragging myself and ymip jr around the country watching a product which has been mind numbingly appalling this season. From my perspective the club has little or no direction and has fundamentally lost the spirit that set us apart and drove us through the divisions. I've felt next to no affinity with the guys out on the park this season who largely seem to be mercenaries with no sense of what the club means to us and the struggle we've had to get to where we are. Not sure another raft of jobbing trialists is going to address this problem. I don't think I'm alone in feeling disenchanted with the way the club is headed and unless something is done about it as a matter of urgency then I fear we're facing a very bleak future.

 

 

DUNDEE

Brian Easton, Gary Irvine, Mark Kerr, John Baird, Kevin McBride, Jim McAlister, Mark Stewart, Ryan Conroy, Nicky Riley, Neil McGregor, Steven Milne, Iain Davidson, Matt Lockwood, Carl Finnegan, Davide Grassi, Kyle Benedictus, Rab Douglas, Jamie McCluskey, Graham Webster, Alex Baird, Steve Simonson, Don Cowan, Andy Barrowman.

 

 

 

I'd forgotten that Barrenman had moved to Dundee.

 

This means he now holds the honour of having been relegated from the SPL 3 times with 3 different clubs.

 

It is actually the only hatrick of his career.

The Board of Caley Jags Together....and I'm assuming that is who you are having a pop at....can only do so much without the help of others, and it is that which they try to encourage.

Ultimately they are there to represent the fans, to take forward and try and execute the ideas they bring forward to improve things for the fans and to try and increase attendance and support as a result.

They were responsible for the free tickets for schools and youth groups initiatives the club now have in place....they (the then Supporters Trust) spent several season purchasing season tickets which we made available to these groups and in doing so we proved the merits of such a scheme to the club who have since taken it on board and hugely expanded on it.

They have supported Street League level football for as long as I can remember, they provided assistance with travelling for Youth level football at the club during a time or particular hardship...and continue to offer assistance as and when they can and when it is needed. They took up the fans case with the club over the summer over the whole Rangers fiasco (despite many fans letting themselves down by not following through on promises). They went to bat for the guys in (the then) section G when their was problems with over zealous stewarding. They've assisted with two very successful kids kickaround sessions this year which brought a total of near 250 kids on to the park and gave them the chance to meet and play a bit of football with the players. Many of the things the club are being praised for recently have also been driven and supported by Caley Jags Together.

Individuals from within the organisation assist on matchdays with a whole host of things from selling programmes and half time draw tickets to stadium announcing, operating the clubs matchday media operations (previews, reports, videos and interviewing), as well as assisting with the website and driving it towards the product the fans want/desire. CJT members were also in there helping the club stuff envelopes at renewal time, allowing the club to get all letters out in a much reduced timescale (the result of other goings on outwith the clubs control). They sat down with the club when season ticket prices and packages were being set and advised where appropriate/relevant.

And all of the above does not include the hundreds of hours put in to organising and running fund-raising events which are operated in order to provide the money which allows these things to be achieved.

In fact, I could confidently say that there's not a day goes by when someone or other from CJT is not in communication with the club over something.

All of the above has been achieved despite our only having maybe 15 or so "active" participants when it comes to doing a little bit more than buying a ticket and turning up at a match.....imagine what could be achieved if we had 100 people willing to do the same?

I could (literally) give you a list of 100+ other things that we would love to do....but we can't do it by ourselves.

There's some individuals who spend 20, 30, 40 hours (unpaid) a week (sometimes a lot more) doing stuff to help club and fans.....so please don't come on here all mouth and no action, questioning the loyalties of anyone within CJT.

 

You can pinpoint the exact moment his heart splits in two.

Over the years since the North Stand was constructed in December/January 2004/5 there have been some whispers about a name change to the stand. Such like, The Northbank, The Bridge End and even one bawbag suggested the Caley Kop

I have always thought it the greatest privilege for an ex player, manager or Chairman to have their name Christened on one of the home stands. Tonight we have heard the solemn news that THEE greatest player and legend to have played for the Red and Blue of ICTFC has decided to leave. However i just find it totally unfathomable to think that Rossco will have nothing left to do with us, for we all know Ross Tokely is ICT and ICT is Ross tokely.

So in this case, I would like to propose renaming the North Stand to the Ross Tokely Stand!

Who's with me?

- Fans pay £50 to emulate Jonny Hayes and have a square go with Richie Foran. First fan to last a minute going toe-to-toe with the Foranator wins a coconut.
- CaleyD challenge: fans and players pay £25 each and have to read three of CaleyD's posts in a row without falling asleep. Winner gets years supply of Nytol. This challenge will require strict drug testing for Pro-Plus, cocaine and crystal meth.
- Renegade XI. All the players Renegade has suggested we sign are recruited to play in a charity match against Caley Thistle. Fans flock for miles around to see how that eight foot tall Norwegian whaler works alongside Tana Umanga up front.
- Ross County charity approach. We charge everyone £20 for, er, y'know, eh. Yep.
- Everyone pays Johndo £10 to go a week without insinuating that he has insider information from within the club. The accuracy of Johndo's 'exclusives/windups/pish' will remain the same for this week.
- Instead of TopSixNextYear putting bets on Caley winning 7-1 and Shane Sutherland to score hat-tricks, he donates all his bets for a month to the club. We now have more money than Manchester City and Ladbrokes are bankrupt.
- ALternative Maryhill enters a 'Jesus and Mary Chain' look-a-like competition and wins £5 for the club. Sadly it's wasted when the result ofthe competition descends into a massive riot and everyone gets killed.

As a Killie fan please accept my deepest sympathy to the Caley fan who sadly passed away at Rugby Park today, the game and result are irrelevant when things like this happen

Pathetic topic .Boring, thought we had all got over it,our most exciting season in our history and this clown starts a thread on Rangers

No wonder Rangers fans say the rest of Scottish football are obsessed with them 

get a grip nd lets jst celebrate our own amazing season nd let Rangers get on wi it. 

Disagree.  Over the years Rangers and Celtic have dominated Scottish football and they and their supporters have treated other clubs as training fodder from which to poach the best players.  In Rangers case it became apparent that not content to be one of the two biggest clubs with levels of income that the rest of Scottish football could only ever dream of having, they were using all sorts of dubious financial means to further their aims.  Now they have been found out and are briefly suffering the consequences in the wilderness of the lower reaches of the league structure.

 

Having been mocked and patronised over the years for supporting my no hope North of Scotland team - my local team - I make absolutely no apologies for taking the opportunity for having a dig or two at Rangers and the discomfort of their fans whilst they languish in the lower divisions. 

 

Of course we must celebrate our own success, but the fact that this success comes at a time when Rangers are out of the picture makes it so much sweeter because our success has been built around sound financial management.  Contrasting our success with their stuttering rehabilitation illustrates a triumph of honest endeavour over the shady wheeling and dealing of big business and the bully mentality.  Don't see anything pathetic in that.

 

In any case. let's not forget the age old custom of the bragging rights of the football fan.  We certainly have bragging rights over The Rangers at the moment, so let's make good use of them whilst we can.  As sure as night follows day, The Rangers will buy their way back to the top of Scottish football in 3 or 4 years and we will again be subjected to the usual patronising disdain. Don't be such a killjoy - enjoy it whilst you can! 

.....I told you so!!!

 

That is all.