PerfICT

...or Ipswich! Couldn't see him turning that opportunity down when McCarthy bins it. Hibs will give him the chance to answer the "can he handle a big club?" at interview. Given the nonsense this week, he's probably in discussion with the Ipswich chairman already...

Agree - everybody seemed to be in the know except ICT. I'm sure Butcher was tapped up many moons ago...

Excellent - another one off the TB shopping list (unless he stumps up megabucks).

Butcher tapped up, ITC stitched up and Hibs f***ed up! The good news is that the new manager only has to get us to a cup final or finish 3rd to ensure that Butcher is no longer our most successful manager!

Larsson is a strangely alluring option, but would be a risk. Could ask him to bring his boots: even at forty-odd, he'd bag a few. He'd need a steadying influence at assistant. Otherwise, I think I'd need to go with Levein: but please no 4-6-0!

. to show just how bitter I am, I want Dross County to pump Hibs in the cup: end of season for Butcher and co! Plenty of time for them to watch us clean up in all 3 comps!

It is done. Time to find an even better management team. I hope ICT screwed Hibs for all they had....which isn't much. Butcher obviously didn't know that Edinburgh folk are known to be "all fur coat and nae knickers" - any war chest he's been offered will be on overdraft.

This is going to be really tough - there are some shocking suggestions doing the rounds. We need a progressive manager who'll cinstantly command respect from this great group of players so that advances in January can be fended off. I have no idea who could do that, but it's not Jimmy Calderwood, Kenny Shiels etc.I will never be able to see past the 4-6-0 debacle when it comes to Levein, although maybe he could do a job (with Houston?) I love the Larsson idea for some reason, but I don't think he had much of a managerial record in Sweden and he'd probably not come anyway. Robbo and Wilson? Robertson sounded prety keen on the radio before the Hibs game (maybe I'm reading too much into it!), but I'm not convinced by the idea. Burley was excellent at Ipswich and Hearts - again couldn't cope with the Scotland job. Equally Hartley, Pressley etc: would they really command this team from the off? No idea! Good luck to Kenny and the board - I'm sure they'll get it right.....but not Shiels or Calderwood, please.

Fantastic performance by every player and supporter of ICT - shame it wasn't matched by our crest-fallen manager. The "Butcher, what's the score?" chant was crystal clear on the radio and said it all. Well done to everybody who went down to ER.

Compensation and/or Malpas are clearly sticking points. KC rightly sticking to his guns. That ICT felt Butcher's presence at ER on Saturday was a ploy to "ramp up the pressure on the ICT board" seems a bit more credible than the suggestion that TB's actions are a ploy to ensure top dollar compensation? This story has a long way to go yet...

Exactly what I was thinking too. Also another nail in the Butcher/Hibs coffin, as Foran to Hibs would be out of the question.

The quotes from Malpas on Saturday didn't give any impression that he'd be interested in the job as manager here - the "decision" he might or might not have to make was quite clearly regarding Hibs. However, from ICT's perspective, the continuity he and SM would privide is attractive. The fact that it would sabotage the Butcher/Hibs plot is a massive bonus!

Interesting ploy from ICT regarding Malpas as replacement manager (if true). Should he want to take the role, it could really put the cat amongst Butcher's pigeons! Either TB or Hibs could get cold feet and pull out of the deal and then what? Butcher back up the A9 with his tail between his legs and still contracted to us. Awkward. He is now tainted goods - do we take him back or sack him for dereliction of duty? What a wicked web....

To shamelessly extend a brilliant analogy by somebody a few days back (can't find on mobile to properly acknowledge!) the following sums up the last few days: Beautiful marriage between older guy and attractive young bride is upset by advances by an old trollop who's seen better days, but flashes some cash... Affair starts, followed by divorce proceedings. Wife and family devastated and imploring a rethink. Bloke is caught snogging old trollop in public - an act of treachery that cannot be forgiven and divorce is finalised. What happens next? Attractive ex-wife pulls an eligible bachelor and they live happily ever after, acquiring silverware along the way. The scoundrel fails to change the bad habits of the old trollop and the relationship ends in disaster and forever rues his weakness in falling for the old bag's advances. The end. As an employee of ICT, the only place at ER that he should have occupied was our dugout. Being in the opposition's stand and receiving hospitality was a clear statement of loyalty (or not) and must have been truly miserable for Kenny Cameron to watch. He should have stayed at home and watched the game on Alba! Unforgivable.Let's take the compensation and find somebody better.

Shocking behaviour from Butcher today: he should have been nowhere near the ground. Disappointed in him. So delighted that our thoroughly professional players put Hibs to the sword in very difficult circumstances. Butcher is welcome to them: a sad end to a successful partnership. Bring on the new man and let's put this sorry episode behind us. Onwards and upwards!

Spot-on, IHE.

ICT were explicit at the outset: no further comment until this is resolved - sensible. The issue is that we have a match tomorrow and there needs to be clarity before TB's team take on TB's team. Shambles.

Courier twitter has been more reliable than most, so the evidence is starting to stack up. Marsella staying would be a bonus. Lump in my throat - this is ridiculous!

...actually, there isn't even a corpse (or 3) yet....

I suspect the Butcher/Malpas/Marsella package was offered as a take it or leave it....and Hibs have taken it. Assuming all the assumptions are correct, I am really gutted at this: I really wish he'd seen us to the end of the season. I met TB a few times and really liked him, but I am struggling to wish him well, given the fact he has gone to a rival team. Thanks, yes - good wishes stick in the throat at the moment, especially if the expected raid on our team happens in January. I just hope they have to endure another management team lifting the league cup in April and leading the team to Europe at the end of the season. Hibs won't do anything this year for sure (Dross County likely to dump them out of the cup in a couple of weeks), so you just wonder how long he'll get there.... Now for the positive: no manager is ever bigger than the club and ICT will go on. Who knows - the new man might have even more success than TB....and the charisma to hold onto our stars in January. Onward and upward - starting tomorrow!

....Oh dear on both fronts. Malpas not there can't be a good sign either... So, we wait for an official announcement in the next few hours, then. God only knows what the players are thinking! Not great preparation for a big match tomorrow!

I don't disagree with your stats or sentiments regarding crowds - we are where we are and there have been plenty other threads on this. I just think that this is a factor in Butcher's mind. Did anyone else hear is comment after DUFC QF "......those who turned up saw an exciting match"? There was definitely a hint of frustration in his voice (felt like he wanted to say "bothered to turn up").........or maybe I'm just paranoid!

If he goes, I think the lack of support will have a lot to do with it. He is entitled to expect the crowds to be increasing in response to league position and performances, but they're getting smaller if anything. It must be pretty gutting. I agree with most of the players at risk - he'd go for the spine of the team (Warren, Meekings, Draper, Foran, McKay) and/or possibly Shinnie. Any of these would be a huge loss. The only ray of hope is that 2 or 3 players have all voiced their doubts in his leaving....or is that just wishful thinking?

Too disappointed to even contemplate this yet. The position we are in should be attractive to somebody, but I have no idea who that should be. Hope we stick it up Hibs on Saturday!

Devastating news - more so because he has gone to a rival. If he could have helped us win a trophy this year, that would have been the sensible time to go. How will he be able to sit on Hibs' bench on Saturday to watch ICT drubbing his new charges (and I hope we do)?!