Something that I've been musing over since the midweek win last week...

 

Pros +

Since Ross County have come into the top league it has boosted the away crowd for 1/2 fixtures a season. The derby matches and rivalry has also been enjoyable. 

 

Cons -

There may have been a swing of 'neutral' fans in the area who came to our home games, that now attend the Ross County games. Corporate package uptake and sponsorship may have also suffered due to the local competition. Away fans will also perhaps don't make the same effort to come up to Inverness, due to the expenses incurred from the County away game(s). We also don't have the same 'feeder club' opportunities that we once had, with them in the same division offering unsustainable wage packages. 

 

I'd be swaying towards preferring them getting relegated if I'm honest. I imagine it would be quite unlikely though, with the fixtures remaining putting St Mirren in pole position for the play off spot. The play offs are also heavily weighted toward keeping the SPFL team in the top league...

Dougal manages to turn another thread around to the merger!

That's some talent.

 

KingBeastie

Dougal manages to turn another thread around to the merger!

That's some all-consuming obsession.

 

Fixed that for you.

They hardly took that many fans to the last derby.  Get them relegated, it'd be funny.

They hardly took that many fans to the last derby.  Get them relegated, it'd be funny.

New Year just before ko

I'd rather they stay up, for the sake of having a local rival. When I say rival I mean whipping boy obviously

But we do tend to get a better gate receipt with them about.

Perhaps the teams should work together for sponsorship. Sponsor the derby perhaps? Be an interesting concept.

But if they truly must go down, then let it be next season so we can offset gate receipts with the possible return or Rangers, and even Hearts who also have a decent away support.

I want County in the Premier League and furthermore would love to see Elgin and Peterhead join us.

Relegated and in administration.  Can't stand them.

Down with the dwellers I say.

I want County in the Premier League and furthermore would love to see Elgin and Peterhead join us.

The way things are going we will have Brora along side us too..................Football focus coming to the Highlands soon  

They hardly took that many fans to the last derby.  Get them relegated, it'd be funny.

New Year just before ko

IMG_0182.JPG

This is an excellent point: the away support was really poor at New Year. There is talk of County fans effectively boycotting matches at TCS because they don't want to "give us a penny". If true, this is an incredible stance that can only end in ruin for both clubs...shabby behaviour!

Its always nice to know you are doing better than your rivals so being in a higher league is always a nice feeling. However, apart from celtic, the county matches are our next biggest crowd puller (sometimes more than the celtic games) and the revenue is vital for a club like ICT. Plus, its great to gubb them!

 

I would like to see them stay up, but only just

I voted Yes because well one and only reason - It would be funny. 

 

In all seriousness though there is many pros and cons of having Ross County in the Premiership. 

 

Pros: The friendly banter that is had on Twitter is something that I find really good about the Highland Derby and it's never taken to the extremes 

          Less Travel involved in the away days and certainly makes a Friday night away day enjoyable with less travel (Unless they get stubborn and turn the lights off!) 

          The cash gate is something that has been positive for both clubs and helps one another out especially with Rangers not in the Premiership

          It's really really fun making Derek Adam seethe to boiling point.

          Despite being Ross County, I really want to see both clubs promoting Highland Football at it's highest level

          Their pies are quite good.  

 

Cons: The way that they acted with tickets for the rescheduled Highland derby last week was ridiculous.

           Last season our crowds took a bit of a hit with them being in the premiership but the bubble's starting to burst which is good

Edited March 6, 201411 yr by ICTRoughi

Ok away supports do look like they have dropped but that's possibly because some fans are probably choosing County over us due to our stadium location and poorer match day experience

I agree due to cost trips up north are getting more expensive so some will have to make a choice

Dougal

Could it not be that Dougal and his mates are in the North Stand when Tinkerville visit but throng in to the Jail End every other weekend ?

Ok away supports do look like they have dropped but that's possibly because some fans are probably choosing County over us due to our stadium location and poorer match day experience

I agree due to cost trips up north are getting more expensive so some will have to make a choice

Dougal

 

And you're one of those fans that chose Ross County over us.

 

I'd rather have Ross County in the top league than Rangers.

Can't beat a Local Derby imho - but selfishly it's an accessible away game for me -------- and it's warmer, and has The Mallard   

Don't want them relegated and don't want Adams sacked. I want us to hump them every time we play them and then watch Adams head explode like an alien in "Mars Attacks"

Happily see them relegated through the play off position, this is highly unlikely due to it being very weighted in favour of the premiership side however which I'm sure we'll be relieved about next season when we are rooted in it.

Ok away supports do look like they have dropped but that's possibly because some fans are probably choosing County over us due to our stadium location and poorer match day experience

I agree due to cost trips up north are getting more expensive so some will have to make a choice

Dougal

Dougal, Ross County play in bloody Dingwall. How is this possibly a better stadium location, than well, ANYWHERE?

A highland derby on a Saturday at 3pm would be nice for a change. It's bizarre why they hate us so much. Must be wee team syndrome.