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Highland Academy In Doubt?

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Fergus Ewing MSP has tabled questions to the Labour Liberal Executive and asked SportScotland for an urgent briefing following representations made to him by local councillors over delays in public funding.
FUTURE OF HIGHLAND FOOTBALL ACADEMY CALLED INTO QUESTIONEWING TABLES PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS ON FUNDING DELAYS
Fergus Ewing MSP has tabled questions to the Labour Liberal Executive and asked SportScotland for an urgent briefing following representations made to him by local councillors over delays in public funding which may result in a writ being served. Commenting on the situation Mr Ewing said:
"I have been contacted by local councillors concerning the future of the Highland Football Academy and I am shocked that the public funding they were promised has not been forthcoming.
"Apparently an alleged legal problem with the setting up of the "Scottish Football Partnership" has meant that the money promised and which was supposed to be passed to the Highland Football Academy has not been paid.
"This has resulted in the possibility of a writ being served against the two directors. Such a situation is ridiculous. When it is money to be paid to Government the writs fly like flock of seagulls but when it is money they have to pay out the attitude is almost blasé.
"This situation need not have happened if SportScotland had advanced the money and then retrieved it once the legal wrangles had been settled. Rather than put forward a solution to rectify the problem SportScotland just say they have no idea when the issue will be settled. This obviously leaves the Highland Football Academy in limbo.
"I am therefore calling for an urgent briefing from SportScotland so that a path can be realised to rectify this situation as soon as possible. If not we could see the Highland Football Academy bankrupt before it is even off the ground. And with that all the public's money that has already been invested will be lost.
"I have also tabled Parliamentary Questions to ensure that the Executive is well aware of this situation and will step into to ensure their quango acts more responsibly. Only today in the papers they are saying they will invest money to improve the game.
"It would be ironic if that promised funding causes problems like that at the Highland Football Academy leading to bankruptcy and wasted public cash."
The questions that Mr Ewing is set to ask are as follows ...
To ask the Scottish Executive if SportScotland has advanced funding to the Highland Football Academy; and if not, whether there has been delay on their part; and what steps they will now take to ensure the Highland Football Academy can continue.
To ask the Scottish Executive if they will intervene to ensure that the Highland Football Academy receives funding promised from SportScotland.
 
Mr Ewing can be contacted on [email protected]
Guest
By Guest in News 2004-05 ·

Board Statement - Groundshare Plan

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The board of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC have issued a statement in reply to stories about the proposed groundshare idea that have surfaced in the press over the last day or two.
Board Statement on Temporary Stands / GroundsharingThe Board wish to issue the following statement :
1. Temporary Stands
This option is still and will remain our first option. As you are aware we held discussions with the SPL at about this time last year, following that meeting we received written confirmation that our plans were acceptable subject to the necessary safety certificates being in place.
At this stage we have no reason to believe there will be any change of stance by the SPL on this criteria to spite the "bouncy, bouncy" story in the press last week.
Obviously the SPL may as is their right, as they make the rules, insist that we put up the temporary stands prior to winning promotion, a very dangerous situation indeed for us and one we cannot contemplate financially.
The temporary seats would take a maximum of 3 weeks to install and we can see no good reason in erecting them before promotion is secured as they are utilised at sporting venues all over the UK and to date have never failed to secure the necessary safety certificates a point we will be asking the SPL to consider prior to them entering their decision making process on promotion.
 
2. Ground Share
As stated in today's press, it is incumbent up on the Board to investigate all possibilities in our pursuit of Premier League Football for the Highlands.
If it means that we have to temporarily relocate to ensure we meet the SPL Criteria whilst striving to meet the temporary stand option then it is something we must consider. This would not be our preferred option but an avenue that must be explored so that we can determine its merits or otherwise.
 
3. 1st Division Football - The Reality
As you are aware ICTFC made a trading profit last season mainly due to our excellent Cup run and our dealings in the transfer market.
Given that our home fan base is circa 1800, we are in a similar position to all the other clubs challenging for promotion from the 1st Division which is that our costs are not matched by income, a situation that is not sustainable. We have been to the edge of the financial cliff previously and cannot go down this route again.
To produce a team capable of winning the 1st Division title is a costly affair as we are all employing players with the ability to play in the Premier League, a fact borne out by Cup results over the past few seasons which have proved that there is very little difference in quality between the bottom 6 teams in Premier League and the top 6 in the 1st Division.
This leaves all the challenging teams, ICTFC included, in a very invidious position whereby we rely on good cup runs and transfer market profits to ensure the Club survives.
 
To summarise, if we are required to meet the SPL criteria by 31st March or later if dispensation were to be granted, which includes erecting temporary stands at great expense to the Club with promotion not guaranteed, then we must have an alternative solution available to us in the short term, as this level of expenditure would be financial suicide for the Club and a route we refuse to be drawn down unless the guarantees were in place from the SPL.
Alternatives must be looked at and at this stage this is all that the Board are doing - considering all the options open to us in our pursuit of Premier League Football for the Highlands.
Remaining in the 1st Division in our current form is not an option for an ambitious club like ITCFC and we must therefore continue to explore all the avenues open to us or alternatively cut our cloth to suit, remaining out of top flight football in its current format.
Guest
By Guest in News 2004-05 ·

Falkirk Match Off

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The SFL Division One game between Falkirk and Inverness Caledonian Thistle scheduled for 20/12/03 was postponed due to bad weather. A new date is still to be scheduled.
Caley Thistle had an unexpected day-off today as the match at Ochilview against Falkirk was postponed by match referee Dougie MacDonald in mid morning. The match between Raith Rovers & St Mirren was also cancelled These postponements allowed Clyde to retake top spot with a 2-1 victory over Ayr United at Broadwood. St Johnstone grabbed a late point when Mixu Paatelainen scored in the 90th minute to ensure that their match against Queen of the South finished 2-2 and County beat Brechin 2-1 in Dingwall in a match that saw County scrape into the top half of the table
The re-arranged date for this match has not yet been set. The draw for the 3rd Round of the Scottish Cup takes place tomorrow.
By Scotty in News 2003-04 ·

CHAMPION-EEES

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Caley Thistle have won the Challenge Cup with David Bingham putting in a man of the match performance topped off with a goal. Steven Hislop made sure of it 1 minute from time with another fine effort. Champion-eeeees
Caley Thistle have won their first ever national cup with a victory over Airdrie United at McDiarmid Park.
After a first half that could have seen either side leading, Bingham and Wilson went close for Caley Thistle, and Brown had to tip a Vareille shot onto the bar, it was Caley Thistle who took control of the game in the second half.
It took until 79 minutes for the first goal to happen, but it was man of the match David Bingham who scored it to put Caley Thistle ahead.
Steven Hislop wrapped it up in 89 minutes with a fine run for the second goal for Caley Thistle.
By Scotty in News 2003-04 ·

Robbo & Brown – Best of September

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John Robertson and Mark Brown have taken the Bells awards for the month of September. Robbo is awarded his first manager of the month award for a great start to the season, and Mark helped him win it by conceding so few goals.
Caley Thistle rose to the top of the first division after our last game, and John Robertson has been rewarded for this year's fantastic start to the season by being named the Bells Manager of the Month for September. Robbo and Donald Park have made a tremendous start to the season. After winning all 8 friendlies prior to the start of the season, including victories over Aberdeen, Livingston and Hearts.
League form has also been far better than in previous seasons, with only 1 league loss so far, against last season's champions Falkirk.
September started with a loss in the CIS Cup to Queens Park, but performances for the rest of the month took Caley Thistle to the final of the Challenge Cup for the second time and to the top of the league.
Caley Thistle keeper Mark Brown wins the September Player of the Month award and must also take a lot of credit for the great start to the season by only conceding 5 league goals and 3 cup goals in 13 games since the start of the season.
Mark has also been rewarded for his performances this season by earning a call-up to the Scottish U21 International squad.
By Scotty in News 2003-04 ·

Boardroom Bust-Up???

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There has been a lot of talk on the message boards and in the newspapers about an alleged Boardroom Bust-Up between management team John Robertson and Donald Park and the Board of Directors. Whilst there may have been a misunderstanding of certain things, there was no bust-up.
Boardroom Bust-Up ? It is understood that two weeks ago the manager wanted to sign another striker, who it is assumed was Jim Hamilton (although this is unconfirmed). ICT are operating with their squad (due to financial sensibilities) on a very tight basis. Steven Hislop had already been brought in during the winter break as a future replacement in the squad for Dennis Wyness, therefore there would be no more money within the current wage structure to add another striker. The manager was told that he could discuss it with the chairman when he (the chairman) returned from holidays, and these discussions took place this past Monday. The manager was given permission to pursue his signing target(s) on Monday night.
It is assumed that the P&J, who first broke the 'news' that there had been a "bust-up" spoke to someone within the club and during that conversation they managed to get only part of the story and came up with a poor headline that suggested lack of funds and a budget row. The Highland News are also set to lead their sports coverage with this negative and unfounded story.
On the money side. A few people have mentioned the magical 500k figure again. This money was never meant to go to the manager for team-building. It was made clear from the very start, when David Sutherland and Tullochs invested it in the club, that it was destined to be used to maintain financial stability within the club for a number of years. There will be a better understanding of the current finances in the coming weeks as the AGM draws near, but for those that think that ICT are rolling in cash, just remember that the club may have made a fair amount of cash last year, but the debt was still in existence at the time of last year's AGM, and the verbalised aim of the board stated at last year's AGM was for the club to break even.
8 pre-season wins out of 8 .... perhaps Robbo already hasa great squad !!
By Scotty in News 2003-04 ·

2002-03 – A Trip to Hampden

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A season of high drama on and off the field.  Changes at the top, championship contenders, more cup giant-killing and a Hampden appearance.  A season that started in economic confusion ended with a Tennent’s Scottish Cup semi-final match at Hampden and a top four league place. A season of high drama on and off the field.  Changes at the top, championship contenders, more cup giant-killing and a Hampden appearance.  A season that started in economic confusion ended with a Tennent’s Scottish Cup semi-final match at Hampden and a top four league place.
Ken Mackie took over as chairman in May and economic stability was achieved with a £500,000 cash injection by Tulloch in September.  In the close season Martin Bavidge left to pursue a full time career in geology but was to continue playing part-time with Forfar.  Neil MacDonald went to Clach, goalkeepers Jim Calder and Nicky Walker hung up their gloves and Motherwell’s Mark Brown took over the number one shirt.  Richie Hart came from Brora and Chris Miller from Barnsley – Hart was to become a first team regular but Miller left in January after only one appearance.  Steve Hislop signed from Ross County during the January transfer window.  Emily Goodlad took over physio duties and Drs Ian Smith and Derek MacLeod continued to deputise for Club Doctor John MacAskill while he recovered from a lengthy illness.  On April 26th “The Doc” sadly died and a large club contingent attended the funeral service in Fort William.  During his nine-season service to the club he made many friends and travelled many miles from his home in Fort William.  John will be badly missed by everyone at the club.
Pre season training started on July 2nd and the first public outing was an unsuccessful one at the annual Keyline/Oban Saints tournament on July 13th.  Six pre-season friendlies in July produced mixed results.  The league season opened on August 3rd with a frustrating goalless draw against Alloa at home.  Three days later it was a long midweek trip to Berwick in the Bell’s Cup and a 1-0 victory for the home side.  On August 10th Caley Thistle travelled the relatively short distance to Perth to play St Johnstone for the first time and lost to a late goal.  The season’s first senior goal did not come until August 17th - Ross Tokely was the scorer against Falkirk at home but the concession of two late goals led to another defeat.  The tide turned on the 24th  On the last day of the month came an amazing 4-0 away victory against promotion-fancied St Mirren.  This result led to the sacking of manager Tom Hendrie and a climb to fourth place in the league.  The final of the Inverness Cup took place on September 3rd against Ross County at Grant Street Park and the Dingwall side won 1-0. with a 2-0 home victory against Ross County.
Home victories in the CIS Insurance Cup against Dumbarton and St Mirren earned a third round tie away to Celtic.  The match was played on October 24th and many feared a sound beating in revenge for February 2000.  In the event Caley Thistle put up a good show and went down 4-2.  Steve Paterson was linked with Dundee United when Alex Smith was sacked but nothing came of it.  A good league run from September to November led to top place being achieved.  The cup victories and league run ensured that Steve Paterson was named SFL Manager of the Month for September, October and November.  Dennis Wyness won the player award in September and October with Barry Robson taking the honour for November.
Steve Paterson’s achievements threw him into the limelight just as Aberdeen parted company with Ebbe Skovdahl.  A dramatic 3-3 draw at Ayr on December 7th was to be Steve Paterson and Duncan Shearer’s swansong as they left for Aberdeen four days later.  On Boxing Day former Hearts and Scotland player John Robertson was named the new manager.  He came from the post of first team coach at Livingston and brought in former Hearts (and Caledonian) player Donald Park as Head Coach.  Park was appointed on January 3rd.  An undefeated December run meant that 2002 ended with Caley Thistle in the number one slot.  Robertson made a dream debut with a 4-1 away win against St Mirren on December 28th amidst a blaze of publicity.
The new transfer window system led to speculation that Dennis Wyness and/or Barry Robson would leave in January – perhaps following their former manager to Aberdeen.  In the event neither moved despite late bids from Dundee United for Robson.  Freezing weather meant that only two games were played in January – a narrow home defeat to Ayr and a 2-0 Scottish Cup victory against Raith Rovers.  In the next round Hamilton were beaten 6-1 and this earned a quarter final tie at home against Celtic.  Three February league defeats led to a drop to third.  The 5-1 home defeat by Ross County in the postponed New Year’s Day match was a major shock and disappointment.

Six league matches were played in March – four wins, one draw and one defeat – but the highlight was the Celtic match on March 23rd live on Sky TV.  Tickets were at a premium and the excitement in the days leading up to the match was intense.  Martin O’Neill watched the team go down 4-1 at Clyde and this may have lulled him into a false sense of security.  Celtic came north just after defeating Liverpool in the UEFA Cup and Martin O’Neill rested some of the big names.  This was to prove a major error as a Dennis Wyness goal ensured another historic victory.  Henrik Larsson played for the full 90 minutes but his usual strike partner John Hartson only came off the bench in the 62nd minute.  This top class partnership could not break down the home defence and O’Neill was left to make excuses.
It was clear by this time that Falkirk were going to be First Division champions but the race for second place was an open one.  This all took a back seat as preparations were made for the biggest game in the club’s history – the semi-final of the Scottish Cup at Hampden on Sunday April 20th.  The opponents were not known for a long time but eventually Dundee beat Falkirk in a replay to earn their Hampden place.  An 11000 allocation ensured that tickets were easy to obtain and thousands went south to enjoy a day out at the National Stadium.  The match did not really live up to the pre-match billing and, despite Dundee and Caley Thistle being attack-minded teams, there was only one goal in it.  Semi-finals are often nervy affairs and this one did not explode into the thriller that had seemed likely.  The game hinged on two incidents – Dundee ‘keeper Julian Speroni produced a wonder save in nine minutes to deny Dennis Wyness then in 78 minutes the winner came from a mishit shot by Georgi Nemzadze.  The cup dream was over but heads could be held high.
It was now just a question of where Caley Thistle would finish in the league.  A 5-1 victory at Alloa gave some hope of ending in the top three but defeats to Ayr and St Johnstone meant that fourth could not be bettered.  Paul Ritchie was named Player of the Month for April with an Alloa hat-trick being his fourth of the season.  The season ended on May 10th with high drama around the country.  Caley Thistle were guests at Falkirk’s party to celebrate Brockville’s last game but spoiled the day by winning 3-2.  Charlie Christie’s 82nd minute goal proved to be the very last at Brockville.  In Dingwall Ross County beat Ayr 4-1 to avoid relegation on goal difference.
Dennis Wyness ended the season as club and division top scorer with 27 goals in the league and cups.  He was also named First Division Player of the Year.  Mark Brown started in all 44 games and Dennis Wyness also played 44 times – including one substitute appearance.  The Falkirk match was Wyness’s 119th in a row.  Stuart Golabek scooped the pool in the annual awards as he was named Player of the Year by the Official Supporters Club, Players and the Internet Supporters’ Club.  Dennis Wyness was named Supporters’ Player of the Year following a vote at the last home game and the Matchday Programme Player of the Year was Richie Hart.
As the close season arrived all the talk was of the re-opening of the transfer window – who would stay, who would go and who would arrive?  Time will tell.    


Copyright to and used with permission of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC Club Historian - Ian Broadfoot
By Scotty in History ·

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