I do agree there will be major changes if the club get relegated, i also dont think Ferguson will hang around as he would be seen as to have failed in keeping us up, i also think we need a complete clear out of coaching staff to bring in fresh ideas ,these are the guys who are going along with the current tactics, also more needs to be done to get our own home grown lads on the pitch.

And you will be funding it....?

1) I'd imagine Scot Gardiner and Duncan Ferguson would be relieved of their duties and it's likely that Ryan Esson would come in as manager which I would totally back (now I'm not saying that I believe the gaffer needs sacked, it's just my thoughts on what will happen if the unthinkable happens which is very likely) 2) We'd have a team of youngsters in the playing squad maybe with some experience and loans too; in the hope that we bounce straight back up at the first time of asking.

I’ve had to create a new account due to forgetting my password. Formerly BobbyDazzler. Going by what I seen on Wednesday we have nothing to fear. I think it was a case of we were extremely bad in the first rather than Hamilton being good. The second half proves what we are capable of with the right players on the pitch with a positive approach and playing on the front foot.

I think that this is the key. We need to take control from the start, grab it by the scruff, and take charge. That's what we need to do. But from what I have seen, I have grave doubts about our ability to do so.

Yes the Crysler V8 a beautiful sound but a bit thirsty

I have no idea what this means - anyone able to explain in common or garden language?

Looked up the Jensen. 1972 and 7.2L engine… The Jag is 1952 and 3.4L

Went on to see when accounts were due for the battery storage and I see that the club have gone from being the sole shareholder to now only having 1%. The three people listed below all now hold 33% each.

I really dislike this thread aiming against my beloved ICT. Ok, it seems badly run, badly managed etc etc but whatever the future brings the diehard fans will remain. I only wish I had the cash to help but, in the meantime, I’ll remain positive. So - call me a happy clapper all you want, I’m not happy but I will always be a supporter, whatever division. After all I’ve enjoyed the banter at all the Highland League grounds so, bring it on. However, evening games at Dumfries not attractive at my age now!

I think that it’s very difficult to estimate what would happen if relegation took place because of the ongoing chronic lack of information. The last accounts we have seen are to the end of May 2022, almost two years ago, and even these are disappointingly lacking in detail; for instance they don’t even record turnover. In February, the board deployed an accounting technicality which allowed them to delay the accounts for the year to May 2023 by three months and that new deadline arrives at the end of this month - although even this latest set will still be a year out of date. The deadline for another AGM is July 24th but last time the deadline stated on the Articles of Association was ignored to the extent of four months. We know that, within the period of the accounts that should be imminent, the arm’s length concert company collapsed but, while local traders lost out, the club contrived to extract money out of that situation - at the cost of a great deal of local goodwill being lost. Of the battery farm, little has been heard since the Council pulled the plug. Meanwhile the ongoing perception is that the club is still losing money hand over fist and a group of wealthy individuals are continue to put their hands in their pockets to keep the administrator from the door - although details are unclear. So at last we get to the added implications of possible relegation where I would imagine that further reduced income streams would need to be added to all the uncertainties listed above. Straws and camels’ backs? Certainly, the stated objective of solving the financial problems by returning to the Premiership would appear to be quite a distant one.

Make no mistake, Hamilton are there for the taking but only if Ferguson picks the correct team. As people have already said, People and Lawal have to start and Longstaff needs to be dropped as he is offering nothing. Not convinced that Macgregor is the saviour some posters think (they're going on past reputation imo) but if things not going to plan, he needs to ge brought on earlier than he has been. If Austin Samuel's is fit, I would be tempted to throw him on later in the game as he has real pace which we lack. We also need to go at Hamilton from the off and put them under pressure as I think they will struggle. Their pitch certainly helped them last night as it was awful.

As I understand it there is no bank debt. I also assume there is nothing due to the taxman as league rules state that such a scenario would trigger a points deduction. All money owed will be to directors and other private benefactors. The chairman has a charge over club assets which include the battery farm so he's made sure to cover his own ass to an extent. As is normally the case when those running a club make an arse if it the fans will be the ones expected to bail it out. The problem there is that the club's stock with fans, local businesses and the community is at an all time low meaning there's not enough people motivated to do anything. As Yngwie says these scenarios may happen even if we avoid relegation. The 2022/23 accounts are due within the next 2 weeks and there's a growing feeling they have been delayed because they will show the club to have been insolvent for quite some time. I have stated previously that there is a scenario whereby the chairman actually stands to gain if the club goes into administration and the battery storage is then approved. I hope the Supporters Trust are geared up to take legal action if that does happen.

Even if we stay up, those things are possibilities, but through cost cutting I think we’ d be able to survive and stay full-time in some form, but perhaps with a lower headcount on and off the pitch, and without a youth set up. The relegation scenario is considerably worse and I can’t bring myself to think about it.

I hope you are right IHE

So we are 2-1 down after the first leg of the play off. We have only won a handful of games by more than two goals this season. There is a good chance we are going to be relegated into League One. What will the consequences be of this happening? I've heard people say that we will go into administration if we get relegated, I've heard people say that we will go part-time. People even speculate that we might go out of business entirely if this happens. I think at one of the fan Q&A events the chairman said they hadn't been planning for relegation but I'm sure they've also said in other communications that they are planning for this. While we all know the people running the club are generally incompetent I cannot believe that they haven't considered what to do if this happens - we would likely close down our Youth Academy operations, make staff redundant and possibly go part-time, to a degree. Perhaps we could keep a core of full-time players and supplement the rest with part-timers and youth products. As I understand it, companies go into administration if they are insolvent. Given our regular massive losses we probably fit that category but I don't know if it would be in the interest of the people who are writing the cheques to put us into adminstration. Maybe it could be done to reduce costs (ie make everyone redundant) and then start from a new base. I'm not sure our position with regards to creditors - do we owe money to the bank or the taxman? If so, they might put us in admin and sell our assets for payment. Assuming the club continues, how do thing develop on the field? I can't see Duncan Ferguson continuing if we go down - he has said many times he was here to keep us up, he failed and does he really want to compete in the third tier of Scottish football? I don't think so. I can only see us appointing someone from within - Scott Kellacher? Ryan Esson? Charlie Christie? In terms of players, we have, I think, five players under contract. I can see us offering some of the young players coming to the end of their deals one year contracts and trying to build that way. The banter outcome is that we get relegated, win our Scottish Government appeal and get a £3m cash injection mid season.

Having also reflected I'm now a little less pessimistic than I was when Hamilton scored their second goal. I agree with those who would have Pepple and Lawal on from the start. Pepple always looks dangerous on the attack - dunno why he's only ever a last 15 minutes sub.

The day after and reflecting, I thought we relied too much on Billy and Alex Samuel this season,both workhorses who give everything, but the end result is not there. I have no idea why Lawal was not on from the start, unless Dunc was keeping some players back for Saturday, thinking we would have walked it last night. Longstaff and Gilmour didn't have a good game, nor did Anderson.On Saturday there is no room for passengers and I would go 3-5-2, start with Kepple,Lawal,Roddy and drop Billy to the bench to come on in last 1/4 if need be. We have no choice but to be hopeful and positive and in my humble opinion we have to go all out and attack and not relyon defending the whole game and trying to sneak a goal. We need as many goals as we can get to be sure,which means high tempo,swift passing and accuracy.

The team have an opportunity to turn this around now and I am sure we all hope they take it. Because let’s face it the tie was almost already gone; who amongst us wasn’t watching that and at some point thinking it was done. Anyway it is not done and it most certainly is game on. I would agree with starting lawal and pepple as regardless of anything else they will unsettle the Hamilton back line; who coped fairly easily with the starting line up last night. They also want to be testing the Hamilton goalkeeper whom wasn’t really tested. Ridgers was caught out unfortunately but I am sure he knows it himself; he is still an excellent goalkeeper and will be keen to show it again. Fortune favours the brave and so we would do well to be brave in team selection and with application on the pitch. There is now an opportunity to for everyone to redeem this tie and to produce a winning formula. Seize the opportunity and squeeze the Hamilton team until they they accept their renewed membership of league 1

Absolutely spot on. Unless the injury situation is even more dire than we know, it's bizarre how the manager can't see what most of us have been seeing all season. No way is Gilmour the new Allardice. He's a wee battler who gets booked every week. He gave the ball away for the first goal too when we were playing rondo in midfield instead of getting the heads up and switching the play. This tie is looking far more promising after the first half where it looked like we were doomed. Who knows how the game might have played out before that fluke goal which settled Accies and allowed them to sit in. Same old pedestrian possession based, safety first, pass it to death nonsense. Raise the tempo, take the occasional risk. I'd be tempted to start Pepple, who caused a fair bit of panic, and keep Billy on the bench till the last half hour. As a striker... If Lawal doesn't start then what's the point. We'll have to wait and see how Devine is (where's Ujdur?) but possibly 4 at the back with Carra starting and Kerr in midfield. And if Roddy makes an appearance, try making it more than 10 minutes ffs. We've got a sizeable enough squad it appears but what do I know... We have enough quality to blow Accies away, on last night's showing, but we've seen that movie many times.

Good point. I would always played Roddy when McAllister wasn't available. I would however play him as a number 10 but where would that leave McKay I would also go for the set up prescribed by Chris. I think that we will turn it around as Hamilton looked whacked at the end. Not getting the equaliser sets the dilemma and I unfortunately suspect that Dunc will go on the defensive to start for fear of conceding. It is a HUGE game but being adventurous now has it's dangers and should have been the plot weeks ago - as should the recent chopping and changing. We could have five different starters at the weekend!!!

You’re right, I never went back far enough, got bored with all the bus pics

Square pegs and round holes. Duncan refuses to learn.

Can this Cat play in midfield or as a 10? Let’s get him in. As long as he doesn’t lose the ball or pass sideways

Game of two halves but we really needed to capitalise on our good play with an equaliser. The first half was just appalling from us, Accies absolutely tan rings round us. Considering we’ve been playing the same formation since Ferguson took over it’s amazing that we all seem so uncomfortable in it. Defensive slips and mix ups, disorganised and wasteful midfield and attackers who essentially aren’t there. Dire. Second half improved, particularly Lawal and Pepple. Lawal is a great link player and Pepple finished his goal well and didn’t put a foot wrong the whole time he was in the pitch. If they don’t both start then I don’t even know what to say. If we *have* to play the 3-5-2 then we should line up as follows for the game at the weekend -----------------Ridgers--------------- ----Carragher------Devine------Boyes------- Kerr-------------------------------Harper-- -------MacGregor--Anderson--Lawal------- ----------Mckay------Pepple------------- Carragher was an improvement when he came on. Devine seemed to get an injury late in teh game so maybe sub him out for Ujdur or Savage. Anderson wasn't great, his distribution and use of the ball were poor but Gilmour is not fit and Longstaff was just lost. Anderson at least pushed forward from midfield a bit, maybe encourage him to do that. I feel a bit sorry for Longstaff, he's not a central midfielder but he's been picked there and doesn't have the positional awareness to play there. Lawal was the only player who linked the midfield and the attack and looked capable of doing anything to make a difference. Samuel worked hard and is an honest player but Pepple came on and every time the ball came to him he used it well. He even fell over the ball and retained possession at one point. His finish was good as well, adding the one he scored against Dunfermline and he knows where the net is. Even with these changes I have zero confidence in this team to get a win, let alone by two goals. I think the game will go as follows - we push forward early but Accies score on the break. We then pass from side to side and do nothing until equalising in the last twenty minutes but can't break down Accies, the game finishes 1-1 and we go down.