Appreciate we've had a conversation on this before but I'm looking at this thread for ideas on how it could be made a reality at TCS and ask that we avoid the arguments about the rights/wrongs of current rules, stewarding etc and concentrate on what can be done within current parameters.

What do we know about the situation?

We know the SPL have given a green light to the use of the safe standing seat/barriers that are already used elsewhere. Any proposals outwith that would need to be considered on a case by case basis....for that reason I'd like to stick to ideas involving what is already deemed acceptable.

We know that the North Stand isn't a suitable location as the structure is not suited to the installation of the safe standing seat/barriers.

Like it or not, the West Stand is viewed as being suitable for away fans for bigger games and any proposals to use that area risk being met with a little less enthusiasm than elsewhere.

We know that the cost per seat is around £100 (including installation).

We know the club cannot afford to pay for these seats...not unless they have some guarantee that they will make the money back pretty much straight away.

We know seats cannot be installed as a singly and need to be done in blocks.

Accepting the above information/restrictions, what are the options?

Location - We seem to be pretty much restricted to using the Main Stand...and given that we use the uncovered South Wing for some away games then I believe the most acceptable proposal would be for installation in the uncovered North Wing.

Cost - As the club don't have the means to fund it directly then it falls to those who want it to pay. Would those looking to stand at games be willing to pay for them? I don't know what the club would be willing to consider in this regard, but for the sake of argument let's say that season ticket prices would be on a par with the North Stand and you had to pay £100 (one off in first season) to cover the cost of having your "standing seat" installed.

Would people be willing to commit that money in advance to allow purchase and installation to take place over the closed season?

Trade Off - In an idea world we would have such areas installed in the North Stand, somewhere behind the goal area, but it's not an ideal world and the North Wing of the Main Stand would not be viewed as a "prime location". Would people rather have no standing than stand there?

What's more, as there's no roof in that area then you are going to get rained/snowed on. Let's forget the idea of having a roof at this stage, if we can't afford to install seats then we definitely can't afford to put in a roof!!! Personally I think those wanting to stand are more "hardcore" and a bit of wind/rain/snow isn't going to phase them too much. What's more, with the prevailing wind then a roof serves little purpose anyway. Would people rather have no standing than stand somewhere that's not covered?

Possible Side Benefit - Whilst thinking about the above my attention was caught by the ongoing plight of fans who use wheelchairs/scooters and can't manage the steps in the stands. One of the suggestions to offer better facilities in this regard has been the installation of dugout type shelters, however these shelters aren't suitable for placing in front of stands as they obscure the view of the first row or two of seats behind them. The ideal location for such structures would obviously be in front of a standing area where they would not pose the same problem and we can kill two birds with the one stone.

Would be good to get other people's thoughts on all the above and also any alternative ideas they might have which fall (largely) within the criteria/limitations that exist and which we're not likely to get changed any time soon!!!

Once the thread has run for a while and people have had chance to read/comment then I'll pull all the info together and prepare a discussion document to take to the Supporters Trust and ask if they can then progress it with the Club.

I don't see what the "not everyone uses the forum" argument has to do with anything. Nobody has ever stated that this is the case and it would be a little naive to think that everyone who wants to stand just so happens to be the same group of people who don't use the forum.

Anyone, since you know all these people who want to stand, then feel free to pass on the request for feedback and invite them to send that to me via e.mail or directly to the club via snail mail.

With regards the cost of the rail seats....the bottom line is that no matter how much they might return, the club DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY to get them installed. Part of the reason for this thread is looking for ideas on how that can be overcome.

What's more, there's little point in installing such a system for away fans...aside from NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO DO IT...it's not going to increase the income. Moving people from one area to another and leaving other parts empty as a result does nothing to improve revenue and pay for the cost of these installations.

I don't want to stand as age is creeping up on me. I also have bad memories of guys who refused to use toilets.

Count me out.

An idea could be to put 100 railseats in Section A to guage the popularity of it? it might be a case of more people will get interested once they have seen it and experienced it.

Also would the supporters trust be prepared to pay for some of the railseats? There was a case at Chelmsford City last year when the supporters trust raised the money to build an enclosure for home fans at their ground. Maybe that is something which you could look into? http://www.chelmsfordcityfootballclub.co.uk/clarets/roro-project

I also came across the sight http://www.arenagroup.com/index.php/products/seating/sports_stands_and_lts.html who specialise in building small 120 to 200 seated stands like those at Lossiemouth and Formatine United. these small stands don't cost very much and most come on the back of a lorry. Would the club or supporters trust be prepared to put one of these stands in the South West terrace for away supporters, which would free up the current West Stand. Then the supporters trust plus fans could raise the funds like chelmsford did and put railseats in the West stand? Just a thought.

On the seeing and experiencing it side, maybe we could ask the safe standing roadshow to come up to Inverness before the end of the season. If we allowed them to put up their railseat prototype outside the ground before a SPL fixture this would allow fans to view and try it out. Then we could properly gauge the popularity of safe standing at TCS after that.

http://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk/

The Supporters Trust are in constant communication with the club, this is one of the items being discussed and we will offer support and assistance where we can.

It's those discussion that sparked the start of this thread, partly to see if the interest is there and partly to look at ideas for raising/acquiring the funds to make it a reality.

The bottom line is that if it is to happen, then the money needs to come from somewhere. The club don't have it and the Supporters Trust don't sit on the kind of funds that would allow them to just hand over £10,000 for 100 seats. What the Supporters Trust does have is a resource to allow us to go out to the fans and, as has been done here, look at the ideas and suggestions and, with the help of the fans, put a plan of action in place which aims to bring about what the fans want to see happen.

We totally appreciate that not everyone, as individuals, has the funds to just throw money at things. We also appreciate that football is expensive enough as it is without asking for people to dip in to their pockets over and above for stuff like this....however, people often do have a bit of spare time and if we can get enough willing bodies and we can harness that time and focus it towards a common aim, then I don't see why we can't achieve what we want.

Perhaps a better way to tackle it would be to ask if there's any fans willing to give up a bit of time to work with the club/trust in coming up with a plan and making it happen. Any takers?

On the seeing and experiencing it side, maybe we could ask the safe standing roadshow to come up to Inverness before the end of the season. If we allowed them to put up their railseat prototype outside the ground before a SPL fixture this would allow fans to view and try it out. Then we could properly gauge the popularity of safe standing at TCS after that.

http://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk/

Sounds like a good idea to me. It would allow those who go to the games to actually see what is being talked about and, indeed to allow them to know that it is being talked about at all. Very interesting website. The downside for us is that because we do not fill the ground, the extra capacity this produces will not result in any increased revenue save for the handful of folk who might be persuaded to come to matches who currently stay away.

I would help!! I'm a strong supporter for safe standing and also a huge football ground enthusiast. I would even go as far as saying im abit of an anorak in that area

I believe there is alot of positives with safe standing and I've been desperate for ICT to take full advantage of the new legislation. Not only would it improve atmosphere but i'm sure it will eventually bring cheaper prices and allow a wider audience to football. hopefully more adults would be willing to take more children who would hopefully continue to support the club for years. Also i use a football ground site forum (for more anoraks like me lol) and since the SPL voted to allow safe standing there has been a flood of interest from south of the border for people to come and visit and try it out. It would be great for Inverness and ICT if these people came here first and not celtic, rangers, motherwell etc.

On the seeing and experiencing it side, maybe we could ask the safe standing roadshow to come up to Inverness before the end of the season. If we allowed them to put up their railseat prototype outside the ground before a SPL fixture this would allow fans to view and try it out. Then we could properly gauge the popularity of safe standing at TCS after that.

http://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk/

Very good website and some interesting pictures that show it far better than the usual ones that are trotted out.

PS - nice contribution for your first few posts !!! Welcome aboard, feel free to stand up and have a look around !

Why is the focus on this specific type of safe standing with the individual fold down seats. The SPL are open to the idea and suggestions and since they have looked at Germany where safe standing of other kinds is allowed then surley other types of safe standing can be looked at here.

In Germany they have more traditional standing areas so to say:

http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/GER/Westfalenstadion8.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TQ4dsmEkq9I/AAAAAAAABkU/lCVzg3e5Nzo/DSCF4053.jpg

Those would be much cheaper to install so this option should be looked at and pushed forward.

Yeah, it is already being looked in to. The situation with the SPL is that the rail seating (as far as they are concerned) would be an automatic thumbs up. Anything else would need to go through a proposal and investigation process.

Let's also not forget that just because SPL say aye, it is still subject to local authority and police approval before it can go ahead.

Each new bit of info or idea helps build the options, so keep it all coming.