{slide=Item 01: Follow up from previous issues}

{tab=Strips} A few questions were asked about strips

Gringo Jnr: I designed a strip for the club a few years ago. I showed these to Scotty and my dad before posting them off to the club. Low and behold, the club used the designs but there was no incentive to do this - I just thought it'd be clever. So why don't the club try a competition with schools or fans to design the next away strip? There are probably lots more people who “doodle” a design but don’t realise they could be onto a winner. Why not arrange a cash prize with a FlyBe flight for the chosen design?

Scotty: It was mentioned previously that fans could submit designs for the new away kit. As you may be aware, all the strip manufacturers have preset templates that they use for this and which change every year. These templates are usually available in the public domain after the strips are released and allow fans to “play” with possible designs from various manufacturers. Would it be possible to request a PSD file of the 2009 templates from Errea so that fans could submit designs that Errea could actually make?

Jay_7: Would it be possible to get the 09/10 Errea PSD files? Also how are shirt design ideas to be put forward? (Are they to be sent to a specific email address or does posting ideas on the website constitute being put forward?)

Club Response: Firstly can we say that we have been very impressed with the designs put forward on the website and the idea of holding some form of competition etc is certainly on the Club radar at the moment, and yes Gringo Jnr, if selected as the new design the contributor will be suitably compensated this time round.

We will (if available from Errea) forward the PSD files to CaleyThistleOnline and suitable methods of submitting finished designs will be discussed with this website. The majority of the designs so far submitted to the web-site would appear to be more biased towards a home kit. This season it is the intention to change our away kit and we require to submit a new proposal to Errea within the next two to three weeks. To short circuit the system and rather than waiting for PSD files etc can you please go on to the Errea web site and that will give you a feel for what strip designs etc are available but the information from Errea is basically (within reason ) they can go with any design.

Could we point out that there is a preference from within the Club that the strip should be predominately white but can include any combinations of red/black and blue and if you upload them onto the web site we will draw them down from there. As stated time is against us on this but we will certainly have more time next time round and will implement this sooner when we change our home kit. We look forward to receiving your ideas.

[Editors Note: We created a thread on the forum for submissions prior to publishing this article and it can be found here: http://community.caleythistleonline.com/index.php?showtopic=10601]

{tab=Stewarding}Gringo Jnr had a couple of questions in follow up to earlier answers on this subject

Q1: If the club say they try to treat away fans the same as our own, why were the Falkirk support at the recent midweek game allowed to stand and chant and put up a huge flag/banner, yet whenever the ICT support attempt this there is an abundance of stewards telling us it is not permitted.

Q2: There are a few people who are confused as to who to contact on a match day when they feel stewarding is too heavy handed or un-called for. Although the club responded to say the Chief Executive is the one to contact, why are some of us led to believe he is also the 'Match Commander’ and who ultimately made the decision we may be complaining about or who told stewards how to act?

Club Response:

Q1: As stated on previous occasions the Stewards have not been instructed to eject any fan from the stadium as long as their behavior is within the current guidelines. There is no ban on singing and chanting nor waving flags or banners as long as they are A) not offensive or B) interfering with the view of your fellow supporters.

Q2: The Chief Executive is not the “Match Commander”, the only input the Club have on match Days within the confines of the Stadium are through our Safety Officer who again is not the Chief Executive. He liaises with the Match Commander but hands over to him in the event of any stewarding or policing issues. We trust this clears up any misunderstanding there may have been about this issue. If anyone has any issues with stewarding or for that matter any other issues on match days please feel free to contact any member of staff within the ground and they will direct you to the appropriate person who will in turn deal with your complaint. If you do not wish to do this then please put your complaint in writing to the Chief Executive and we can assure you it will be dealt with and you will receive a reply even if the reply. We fully appreciate that previously certain people have e-mailed and or written to the Club and have for whatever reason not been replied to but you are assured this will not be the case in future, assuming of course, that the complaints are of a legitimate nature.

{tab=Smoking}Caley Stan commented: "May I suggest that the club provide a fenced off smoking area outside of the stadium - perhaps outside one of the fire exits in the main stand. This is a similar arrangement to the one which allows people to leave the stadium to use the burger van. I must point out once again that club officials, media and those in corporate hospitality are permitted smoke at the front door of the main stand during half-time. This is a clear example of inconsistent enforcement of stadium rules and upsets a number of 'ordinary' fans who wish to smoke at half-time without harming others".

Club Response: As stated previously the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium is a non smoking stadium but the Board are currently investigating all avenues regarding providing a fenced off area as suggested above to see if A) This is legal and if so B) How easily it can be implemented given the limited Stewarding resources currently employed at the Club on Match days. {tab=Ticket Prices}A number of users asked about ticket prices including "SMEE" who asked for further clarification on concessions for the unemployed and Gringo Jnr who asked whether the club would be lowering the cost of children/family tickets

Club Response: The Board is willing to look at all avenues to increase the potential to get fans in to the stadium especially given the current financial situation within the UK economy. We will be faced with the situation of creating a disadvantage to families who currently hold season tickets but we are willing to look at ways of compensating them by way of free ticket allocation / shop vouchers etc for selected games when tickets are allocated to children or youth sporting groups from within our current fan base area. The current price for a family ticket for 1 adult and two children would be £14.50 plus 2 x £6.50 giving a total price for a family of three of £27.50. Please note the family tickets can only be purchased from the shop up to one hour prior to the game.

{tab=5% Levy} RossP asked "Do the club charge the old firm a similar 5% surcharge for the away tickets we sell and distribute for our games at Ibrox and Parkhead?

Club Response: Yes we do, the reason for the 5% surcharge has been explained previously but for those that may have missed that, the reason for the 5% surcharge for Old Firm games (something we objected to) is to cover the cost of both Rangers and Celtic taking full responsibility for their own ticket sales and fans behavior within the confines of the stadium on match days.

{tab=Entertainment/Atmosphere}Gringo Jnr had some follow up on the half time entertainment: Half Time entertainment need not go on for the full 15 minute slot, but the penalties don’t seem to be lasting even 5 mins. Perhaps increase the number of penalties, or bring back the ICT Cheerleaders?

Club Response: We are pleased to announce that the Cheer Leaders will shortly be returning to the stadium and we will gauge the reaction to this. We are also looking at further entertainment avenues for half time and have had discussions with the Youth & Community department regarding re-introducing some form of schools five a side football tournament to be carried out at half time. You will understand that the time available is limited but we are looking at various ways of increasing the match day experience before the game and during halftime.{/tabs}{/slide}

{slide=Item 02: Club Shop & Website} {tab=Club Shop}Comment/question from Supporters: A few questions were asked by fans this month:

• Kingsmills - Early days yet but how is the new outlet in the Eastgate Centre performing?
• RiG - How is the club "shop" performing in town? I say "shop" as it is not an Official ICT only store but merchandise within another store.
• RossP - There are a lot of training tops that I see the players with which look excellent, however they are unavailable to buy. Will this change?

Club Response: The ICT outlet within Zoo is like many retailers in general suffering slightly from the present financial situation but we are currently happy with performance. We will shortly revisit all our current designs etc for merchandise and taking advice from suppliers and designers as to what we should and should not be purchasing to update and revitalise the current stock items that we have on sale.

A couple of questions were also asked about the online club shop:

• Gringo Jnr - The club shop section of the official site doesn't seem to offer much in terms of choice. For example, I would like a goalkeeper shirt but can’t seem to get one online. Are the club offering 'everything' that is available in the shop itself, if not, could they?
• Tichy Black’s Back - In a similar vain - the new on-line club-shop set-up through Born.com is a big improvement and step forward by the club but the photographs of the various items of merchandise on the Formica table/floor now needs to improve to show a more professional side to the club (in my opinion....). Have the club considered asking for local support for any new merchandise photographs when replacing the existing photographs? - i.e. the photographs can be taken for club use in return for an advertising name/watermark on all merchandise photographs similar to that on match day type photographs....

Club Response: As stated above the full merchandising packages both in our retail outlets and online are being looked at the moment and will be upgraded shortly and TBBs comments re photography have been noted and will be taken on board. Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated.

{tab=Official Website}Comment/question from Supporters: RossP asked whether there was any chance of updating the official website to include all coaching staff and their roles e.g. Duncan Shearer...

Club Response: Yes this will be attended to ASAP and will give a complete run down of all the coaches (not just first team and under 19) and this will go some way to explain the volume of work carried out by the Youth & Community Team under the guidance of Danny MacDonald.

{/tabs}{/slide}

{slide=Item 03: Match Programme}Comment/question from Supporters: Renegade asked: "Whatever happened with that bloke in the programme who used to go around the world reporting on the different games he seen (Jim Rendall perhaps?)? He was good.

Club Response: We have spoken with a few people in the stadium and none of us know what happened to him. We will need to speak with the programme editor to ask if he knows.

Gringo Jnr asked "Can the club arrange with the Programme Editor to publish the stadiums' 'function room' prices? I held my wedding there in September and it was truly a fantastic day. I think businesses in the local area can benefit from ICT's boardroom, and also allow fans to see prices for birthday parties and other get-togethers they may wish to have at the stadium. One taxi with Darren on the back surely can't be enough? We are willing to provide some photos from our day should the club want to use some of them to help promote the venue - I think I have pictures from the Highland March fundraiser too that may be used... and what about events like a 'Wii Night' where the fans can compete with the players at games like boxing, guitar hero and others. I am willing to help with the groundwork as a friend in Bournemouth helps organise these successful events at his hotel.

Club Response: Gringo any assistance we can get from you re your recent wedding and use of some of your pictures is greatly appreciated and Darren will be in touch with you to discuss this. We have also discussed with the Commercial Team about getting more information out in to the public domain re pricing and of course the excellent facilities available at the stadium. With regard to carrying out Wii nights etc Darren in his capacity as part of the events team will also chat this through with you. The events team is currently made up of a mixture of Staff and fan volunteers and any assistance on this front is again much appreciated. The events team have held discussions with the Supporters Trust and with the Supporters Club to discuss fund raising initiatives and assistance as it is very time consuming for those currently involved and assistance on any front would be ideal.{/slide}

{slide=Item 04: Tickets}Comment/question from Supporters: Alex MacLeod asked "Would it be possible for the club to sell away tickets through their online system?"

Club Response: Alex this function is currently unavailable to us but we are willing to pursue this on the fans behalf and we will keep you updated. Of the 10 away games we have had this season so far we have only had tickets to sell for Rangers/Celtic and Hearts the rest have been pay at the gate.{/slide}

{slide=Item 05: Disabled Fans View}Comment/question from Supporters: Caley100 asked "What has been done by the club to improve the disabled fans view, I believe there were a few meetings about this problem and as yet nothing has been done. I would like a few board members to use a wheelchair and sit below the north stand just for one game".

Club Response: As stated previously all issues regarding disabled fans are being looked into at the moment and we are aware there are problems with the view from in front of the North Stand a situation we hope to rectify shortly. We are currently in discussion with the various authorities involved (nothing is straight forward as you will understand) and do hope to see improvement in the near future but ask that you give us time to come up with the correct solution.{/slide}

{slide=Item 06: Coaching}Comment/question from Supporters: Scotty commented that "There has been some discussion on the boards about CB achieving his UEFA Pro licensing badge. Can the club confirm that he has (and congratulate him on our behalf) but can they also clear up a discussion about which other coaches (past or present) attained or held this qualification while working for ICT .... According to some, Danny Macdonald, John Robertson, Donald Park, and Charlie Christie all held (hold) this qualification which at the time meant we had one of the most qualified backroom teams in Scotland.

Club Response: (from Danny McDonald): Craig recently attained his Licence, Malcolm has yet to complete his. Donald Park has achieved his UEFA Pro Licence fulfilling the two year duration of studies required, along with John Robertson and I who attained it on the same course in 2004. Charlie has not attended the UEFA Pro Licence Course as of yet however I believe he will be attending the next course that is due to be run, as he holds the necessary experience and qualifications,( the UEFA “A” Licence). However he (Charlie) has just successfully achieved the prestigious “Youth Licence”, in addition to the club’s existing coaches of Duncan Shearer and I being current Youth Licence holders also.

Editors Note: Danny has promised to go into more detail about the Youth and Community setup, the coaching certificates, and all the various obligations required in a future edition of BB or indeed as a separate article. We look forward to this, especially given the success of the U19s in Turkey and the promotion of various younger players to the first team squad this season.{/slide}

{slide=Item 07: Charity/Masters Games}Comment/question from Supporters: Renegade - Would ICT ever consider an ICT v ICT fans XI charity friendly? I think County did this once.

Club Response: This type of game could give rise to issues with injuries and or insurance problems for our playing staff but please put your idea down in writing and forward it to the Chief Executive at the Stadium if you wish and we will consider it.

Tichy Black’s Back - Similar to Renegade's Question - has the club ever been asked to get involved in Football Aid the charity organisation that organises with UK clubs football matches for fans at the end of each season....I have played in many of their matches both north and south of the border and would love the opportunity to play at Caledonian Stadium....and I am sure I am not alone....

Q. Has the club ever been approached by Football Aid to participate in their end of season charity events? - If YES why has the club declined (internal cost issues or perceived lack of interest....)? - If NO would the club consider getting involved for future events?

Club Response: We have no knowledge of being asked to participate in any Football Aid events so will certainly not have declined. As with all things like this if we are approached we look at all the offers on their individual merits and certainly give any charitable event much consideration and seldom refuse to assist in some form. We recently, in conjunction with our sponsor Flybe, carried out a similar activity based around a local team winning the opportunity to participate in training sessions and playing a team of “masters” at the Stadium this was enjoyed by all who participated and we are sure will be repeated next season.

Alex MacLeod - "Have ICT ever thought of putting a Masters team together. There are still a few fit vets around the area who would put on a good display against the more established teams. Even Grassa should still manage a ten minute spell".

Club Response: Having recently watched the “Masters “football from the Braehead Arena it has crossed our minds that we should have enough “old masters” to put forward a team and hopefully a creditable performance. It is something that we would seriously consider if approached by any ex-players who would be willing to organise this on the Clubs behalf. You give Grassa too much credit Alex --- 10 minutes could be stretching it !!! {/slide}

{slide=Item 08: What do YOU want to ask?}Comment/question from Supporters: Gringo Jnr - Do the club have any issues with the fans that they would like to raise questions about? Such as how we as fans can help the club with their ideas as apposed to waiting to ideas to come to them?

Club Response: As stated above any assistance from the supporters of the Club is always encouraged and appreciated. The current events team was brought together by two fans and ICT Staff following a discussion between the parties but was at the instigation of the fans involved. They have now assisted in delivering a very successful boxing night and assist with the equally successful car boot sales and there are further fundraising events in the pipeline for 2009. Please feel free to discuss your ideas with Darren when he contacts you, plus, if any other supporters have any good fundraising ideas and are willing to assist and contribute in the running of the events please get in touch with any member of the current events team, they would be delighted to hear from you and with your assistance.{/slide}

{slide=Item 09: Miscellaneous}{tab=Travel Club} Comment/question from Supporters: 5th Stand - Could the club approach their travel agents regarding an ICT travel club discount, maybe with Flybe and partners?

Club Response: We do not have an official travel agent as such. If the Supporters Trust / Supporters Club were to set up a formal Travel Club then we would certainly consider discussing this with Flybe on their behalf or at least making the introductions required to move it forward. We do not have an official travel agent as such.

Caley Stan - Would the club consider laying on free buses for season ticket holders to attend an away game in the near future, as a gesture to those hardy fans who have had to endure week after week of disappointment at TCS?

Club Response: You will note following the press release last week that this comment has been taken on board and subsidised busses will be available for the away game against Hamilton.

{tab=Pre Season Tour} Comment/question from Supporters: Tichy Black’s Back - Do the club have any preliminary plans in place yet for next season's pre-season tour - overseas country, England, Ireland....etc? If not when does the club normally start to look at this type of thing and have they considered getting involved in a pre-season tournament (either in Inverness or abroad)? Fans may like more notice to plan a trip surrounding it.

Club Response: No plans are in place at this time but they will be made public as soon as they are available. Unfortunately as with preseason matches these events are very much last minute and can be the result of an invitation or the Managers personal preference re location and timing.

{tab=Strip Colours} Comment/question from Supporters: Renegade – Why are home predominantly blue and never mostly red?

Club Response: This is not a Board decision, though they do have final approval and sign off, as stated in previous discussions re strips all parties within the playing / management/commercial teams are consulted re our strip selections and designs.

{tab=Link Ups} Comment/question from Supporters: Renegade – Whatever happened to the proposed linking up between ICT and Sheffield United?

Club Response: The link with Sheffield United still exists.

{tab=West Stand} Comment/question from Supporters: Renegade - Is the club considering building a full scale west stand, or will the ground have moved by then?

Club Response: This has been costed and discussed on countless occasions (see last month’s BB) and it would not be financially viable for the Club to erect a West Stand at this time.

{tab=Scoreboard} Comment/question from Supporters: Renegade – Will the club ever put up a scoreboard?

Club Response: Due to cost this will not be happening in the foreseeable future unless a sponsor comes forward to fund it. Again we have more pressing issues to deal with at the Club on a very limited budget.

{/tabs} {/slide}

{slide=Item 10: Team Management}Comment/question from Supporters: A number of questions were asked relating to team management issues such as the rumoured new contract offered to Craig Brewster, questions asking if the board would state that a new centre back and striker were priorities, and even asking about the full story behind the Neil Warnock affair during the last managerial merry-go-round.

Editors Note: Prior to giving the club response, we would just like to point out (as we did in the BB forum thread) that this is one of the areas we covered during discussions about Boardroom Banter and where the club have stated right from the very start (and we mean the first series of articles as well as the most recent ones) that they were unlikely to answer questions as they were internal matters. On this occasion we posed the questions anyway - as that is what our users asked us to do - but regardless of the tension over this subject, we got the answer we would always have expected.

Club Response: The Board feel all these issues are inappropriate for discussion in open forum as they are business sensitive and we therefore cannot enter into discussions on the subjects above. No Board from any Company discuss their employees current, past or future in public and we are sure you will fully understand our position on this.{/slide}

Despite the tensions between Boardroom and the fans over the last month or more, we once again want to thank Kenny and Graeme for taking the time to provide these answers, especially as they could easily have used the current situation to cancel the series. We look forward to the next set of questions as they are sure to be very interesting !!!

We will close with a final few words from Kenny and Graeme on behalf of the board and club: "Finally the Board, Management, Players and Staff at the Stadium take this opportunity to thank you for support and loyalty to the Club and the Team in 2008 and we look forward to your continued support in what will undoubtedly be challenging and testing in times both financially and in footballing terms in 2009. We wish you and your families a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year".

Please keep the questions coming, whether they are new questions, or whether they are follow-ups to questions asked in this or previous articles.

Questions can be submitted on the CaleyThistleOnline Forum or via email to the address bb@caleythistleonline.com