The object of this and future articles is simple enough, and that is to establish and maintain the lines of communication between the club itself, and the lifeblood of any club - its supporters. There have been too many occasions over the last couple of years when the club have remained silent on issues that they could easily have commented on, or where supporters have taken small snippets of information and made major issues out of what turned out to be a little more than nothing. With a more open approach to communication from the club and a mindset to ask questions rather than make assumptions from the website, we hope to reverse some of the more recent negativity and show fans and officials alike just how the other half operates and thinks !

For this article, we have taken the responses from the club to questions presented at our recent meeting with them at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium. However, for future articles we will be inviting questions from the fanbase at CaleyThistleOnline.com and hope to extend that to all fans by allowing them to submit questions via the email address of bb@caleythistleonline.com. Questions can be submitted on any subject but the club have (quite understandably) confirmed to us that there are some areas which are confidential and will not be discussed such as the details of player contracts, wages etc or confidential business information.

There were five main issues highlighted at the top of the first standing agenda as points for discussion, and where questions have been posed in the agenda thread or in other threads on these subjects, they have been commented on by the club. A further three items were raised either within the discussion about the agenda, in the meeting itself, or on other threads on the fans' website. These have also been commented on.

Item 01: Advertising Boards constraining the views of disabled Supporters

Comment/question from Supporters: Can we suggest that instead of looking at the advertising hoardings constraining the view of less able bodied supporters we should be looking at relocating them away from the pitch. TCS is not the most hospitable of places in the winter and said supporters can be exposed to harsh weather in winter. {xtypo_rounded_right2}The Club are currently in the process of investigating various options{/xtypo_rounded_right2} A ramp behind the North Stand would allow access to the top of the stand where they would be protected from the elements and also afford them a better view of the game.

Club Response: We assume that both these issues (Disabled Facilities/Restricted View) are one and the same (if not please let us know) and we can confirm that the Club are currently in the process of investigating various options to ensure that our disabled supporters are able to have an unhindered view of play in future.

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Item 02: Car Parking

Comment/question from Supporters: There were no specific questions asked within the Agenda topic about this issue. However, we believe that most supporters are aware of comments on the boards over the years regarding car parking and more recently regarding the removal of stewards from the car park at the end of games.

Club Response: Following an incident where a Car Parking Steward was hit (thankfully uninjured) by a car whilst carrying out car parking duties after a home game {xtypo_rounded_right3}We understand the car parking situation is far from ideal and will continue to review it {/xtypo_rounded_right3}a full risk assessment on the situation was undertaken by the Club. This risk assessment resulted in the withdrawal of attendants from traffic control duties post match.

The Club are currently revisiting this and can confirm that they are looking at various alternative options with regard to current car parking situation. To be fair unless the OF are in Town the Car parks are usually cleared by 5-15pm, but if a greater degree of patience were shown by some vehicle owners whilst trying to exit the home car park then things may run more smoothly.

Rest assured we do understand that the car parking situation is far from ideal and will continue to review it and update you on an ongoing basis.

Item 03: Free or Reduced Price Tickets for Schools

Comment/question from Supporters: We have 2500 to 3000+ empty seats for almost every home game, so surely it would do no harm for the club, except Old Firm matches, to be giving away a number of tickets every fortnight to primary schools and offering £5 tickets and/or something to secondary schools. If the club started this scheme for 'smaller' games such as Hamilton, Killie & Motherwell, then we shall surely see a return when you consider people would purchase items on the day (Catering, Programmes). Offer similar incentives in the Away end also. How often have ICT fans not travelled to a game because they have kids to look after and taking them to away days is far too expensive? It works both ways, and as I was getting at above, it's better to have a bum in a seat and make even £1 from them than it is to have an empty seat which is bringing you nothing. They could also subsidise the Supporters Trust initiative. As suggested a 'two for one' would be a step in the right direction.

Club Response: Over the years we have put in place various schemes for local School children etc and will endeavour to do so again. One of the major issues continually encountered is the fact that if we supply tickets to school children through their schools then they must be supervised by representatives of the School providing the tickets and this is not always easy to organise.{xtypo_rounded_right4}We are very aware that the youngsters are the future life blood of the Club {/xtypo_rounded_right4}

We do arrange (through our Community Department) for School visits etc round the Stadium and will get an update on the progress within our Youth & Community Department in the very near future. We are delighted with the Supporters Trusts latest initiative to take parties of youngsters along to all our home games and could possibly look to expand this in conjunction with them and with their assistance.

We are always open to any good ideas like this as we are very aware that the youngsters are the future life blood of the Club and as such should be encouraged to come along to all our home games.

Item 04: Stewarding

Comment/question from Supporters: Again, there were no specific questions submitted on this topic, just the topic itself. However, reading through the message boards, the club are aware of issues that have been raised in the past such as the inconsistency of stewarding (away fans allowed to stand, home fans not) or the perceived targetting of certain groups of fans for additional checks or more heavy-handed stewarding.

Club Comment: We, as all Clubs, are bound by rules and regulations as set out by the SPL and understandably we must abide by the rules as laid down to us. We do understand the frustrations of fans especially in the North Stand but feel we are in a no win situation with this. {xtypo_rounded_right2}(Its) a case of working together with the fans to ensure that everybody enjoys their day out at the Stadium{/xtypo_rounded_right2}We have regular dialogue with our Stewards and hopefully following last Saturdays events at the Kilmarnock game things will now settle down and everybody can look forward to encouraging and enjoying the superb support we get from all our fans but especially from the drummers/singers etc in the North Stand.

This is not a case of 1-0 to Section “G” as was quoted on ICT Online but more a case of working together with the fans to ensure that everybody enjoys their day out at the Stadium. Those who wish to sing etc and those just want to come along and watch the games must be able to co-exist, very much a case of live and let live. As long as nobody over steps the mark with regard to the current SPL Rules, or resorts to using foul and abusive language, we hope that the excellent support we get from all our fans continues as it undoubtedly inspires the players.

Item 05: Revenue Building Suggestions

Comment/question from Supporters: There were no questions submitted in this category.

Club Comment: Everyone from the Board down realise that all Clubs must look at raising non football related cash to assist budgets in these trying times. To this end the Club have set up the "ICT Events" committee (Les Kidger, Darren MacKintosh, Mike Smith & Kenny Cameron) who meet regularly and also with both the Supporters {xtypo_rounded_right3}The club will try to be more proactive in sending information and advertising material {/xtypo_rounded_right3}Club and the Trust to discuss fundraising events and to try and make sure we all pull together and don't get events overlapping like they did recently with the race nights.

We also chatted informally with Darren from the commercial department and it was generally agreed that the club will try to be more proactive in sending information and advertising material such as posters etc to the website to promote forthcoming events that fans may be interested in. A start has already been made on this with posters now provided for the Boxing Night and the Christmas Party, and notification of the date for the end of season Gala Ball. The club will also continue to send PDF copies of advertising posters for home games to the site for display and/or download.

Item 06: Catering Facilities

Comment/question from Supporters: This was not a subject that was specifically asked about in the agenda, but was something noted by the club in another thread and also raised by us at the meeting.

Club Comment: {xtypo_rounded_right4}Discussions are underway about upgrading the pod areas around the serveries {/xtypo_rounded_right4}Following a visit to the facilities during the half time break at the St Mirren game to witness the situation firsthand the comments regarding speed of service etc have been taken on board and will be discussed with the Catering supplier to try and resolve these issues and allow a smooth and less time consuming service to be provided for the fans. Discussions are also underway about upgrading the pod areas around the serveries and again we will update you on this when these discussions are concluded and way forward agreed with the Board.

Item 07: Communication

Comment/question from Supporters: {xtypo_rounded_right2}It is the Clubs intention to raise the profile from within with regard to our Communication process with all parties {/xtypo_rounded_right2}Again, no specific question was asked about this but this whole article is the result of numerous comments on the boards over a long period of time hoping that the club would increase its communication with fans.

Club Comment: It is the Clubs intention to raise the profile from within with regard to our Communication process with all parties. We have introduced meetings between Club representatives and members of the Trust/Supporters Clubs and as Scott mentioned on one of his posts it is the intention to introduce meetings with forum representatives and Board members on a quarterly basis.

Item 08: Broadcasting

Comment/question from Supporters: This is another subject that wasnt specifically addressed on the Agenda thread although it was highlighted by us to the club and also showed up as one of the most important ideas for discussion within the poll on that thread.

Club Comment: {xtypo_rounded_right1}unless somebody can come up with a very cheap solution to this issue it will remain on the back burner {/xtypo_rounded_right1}Unfortunately as much as we would like to provide this service unfortunately it is not within our gift to do so at this time due to financial restrictions. We very much appreciate that we do have supporters scattered all over the world but unless somebody can come up with a very cheap solution to this issue it will remain on the back burner in the meantime. We are open to suggestions on this so please feel free to make any constructive comments to Scotty or Donald (Caley D) who in turn will pass them on to the Club.

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We thank Kenny and Graeme for taking the time to provide these answers, and will (this time at least), let them have the final word in this article..........

Rudyard Kipling--- Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.