I am fairly certain that most fans/posters on here know that at the end of this season there is likely to be a mass exodus of players leaving so my simple question is, would you rather we replaced them with experienced players or youngsters because I am clearly in the youngsters camp but would also believe that we may need some experienced players no matter what league we're in but especially if we're in league 1 which is the worst case scenario but also the most likely unless we can win our 6 pointers against Arbroath, Queens Park and Dunfermline 🤔.

I don't know who's here for next season but I would imagine that the key ones to retain if at all possible are Billy McKay and Mark Ridgers : ictscarf:

Think it could be a good idea to set up a gofundme for other ICT players who appeal for help to the ST given the circumstances? There must be others who have a tricky predicament. 

If we do survive, question number 1 for a player or agent - Can I get a copy of your player injury insurance please?

15 minutes ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

If we do survive, question number 1 for a player or agent - Can I get a copy of your player injury insurance please?

Question  number 2 for player or agent - who in league one has player injury insurance 

Edited June 13, 20241 yr by ICTPaisley

37 minutes ago, ICTPaisley said:

Question  number 2 for player or agent - who in league one has player injury insurance 

It honestly surprises me that clubs don't have insurance, I would imagine that insurance comes in the form of medical with wage protection as well. Don't want to be paying a players wages when they are sitting out not contributing. Would be a bit heartless for any player or any club to have to go on statutory if they were injured in the course of their work.

30 minutes ago, EvilWhiteStripe said:

It honestly surprises me that clubs don't have insurance, I would imagine that insurance comes in the form of medical with wage protection as well. Don't want to be paying a players wages when they are sitting out not contributing. Would be a bit heartless for any player or any club to have to go on statutory if they were injured in the course of their work.

It's pretty standard for Premier league level. But as you go down the leagues the cost becomes prohibitive with regard to your income level .  As we have all seen recently insurance is another thing that has gone through the roof . It can also be the case that squad cover can be obtained but certain players may be omitted to keep the cost down due to high risk levels.

Just been told that we were previously paying in the region of £50k a year for player medical insurance.  Decision was taken to bring in a sports science to try and prevent injuries and insurance was cancelled.

Another decision that's worked out well!

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45671685

19 minutes ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45671685

That article was back in 2018 so it's good to see that the SFA have done bugger all to rectify it - as usual.

5 minutes ago, ClickbaitProponent said:

That article was back in 2018 so it's good to see that the SFA have done bugger all to rectify it - as usual.

In this case I would say that it isn't for the SFA to mandate for.

The Players Union should absolutely be advocating for it, and should possibly even be looking into a collective agreement with medical providers that covers all the players it represents.

22 minutes ago, STFU said:

Just been told that we were previously paying in the region of £50k a year for player medical insurance.  Decision was taken to bring in a sports science to try and prevent injuries and insurance was cancelled.

Another decision that's worked out well!

Interesting info. A sports scientist ought to bring numerous benefits to the squad, one of which is hopefully a reduction in certain types of injury, which would obviously be a good thing for the team.

As for the insurance, in general, not insuring something is usually the most cost effective option, ie premiums usually exceed the amounts you claim. That is for the simple reason that insurers price their policies as the amount they expect to pay out in claims, plus the costs of processing claims and all their corporate overheads, their profit margins and then insurance premium tax on top of all that. Many types of insurance therefore cost the customer about double the level of claims, so it usually pays for a company to just take the hit as and when something bad happens - which is fine, if you actually have the money when the time arises. We didn’t.

We have had stories from players out of contract. But what about those who had contracts? Have their contracts in effect been terminated by the actions of their employer? 

6 hours ago, EvilWhiteStripe said:

In this case I would say that it isn't for the SFA to mandate for.

The Players Union should absolutely be advocating for it, and should possibly even be looking into a collective agreement with medical providers that covers all the players it represents.

I seem to recall that back in early 2000s when i was running a team in the amateur league (IDAFA) it became mandatory for us to pay a fee to the SAFA for player insurance. Surprised there is not something mandatory at club, or player union level ... obviously not, given Aaron (and Shane's) experience, just surprising.  

 

44 minutes ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

We have had stories from players out of contract. But what about those who had contracts? Have their contracts in effect been terminated by the actions of their employer? 

Assuming that their employer - ICT, since I don't know the precise legal name - is still in existence, then there is no reason why contracts would have been automatically terminated.

And since there have apparently been no communications with players, then there seems little likelihood that contracts have been terminated by mutual consent or by the club.

1 hour ago, Scotty said:

I seem to recall that back in early 2000s when i was running a team in the amateur league (IDAFA) it became mandatory for us to pay a fee to the SAFA for player insurance. Surprised there is not something mandatory at club, or player union level ... obviously not, given Aaron (and Shane's) experience, just surprising.  

 

Huh, this I didn't know. I wonder if it was something that was limited to Amateur leagues as I imagine the protections are a lot lower.

I still stand by my belief that if anyone should be mandating insurance, it should be down to the Players Union. I mean, I have insurance as an amateur golfer through the Irish Golf Union since they have collective bargaining power. I could imagine that there would be a private insurance out there that would offer the same through the Football Union.

26 minutes ago, EvilWhiteStripe said:

Huh, this I didn't know. I wonder if it was something that was limited to Amateur leagues as I imagine the protections are a lot lower.

I still stand by my belief that if anyone should be mandating insurance, it should be down to the Players Union. I mean, I have insurance as an amateur golfer through the Irish Golf Union since they have collective bargaining power. I could imagine that there would be a private insurance out there that would offer the same through the Football Union.

I don't recall the details as it was close to the time I was emigrating but there was quite the controversy, because it was a per-person cost for your team and being amateur it would put most of them under a lot of strain. The IDAFA was pretty vocal against it and I think this was one of the straws that eventually broke the camel's back in terms of Inverness' membership of the SAFA and eventual withdrawal/expulsion from it. If memory serves me correctly, I think it might have been limited to liability insurance in case your player hurt another team's player rather than insuring your own team's individual players for medical expenses.

 

3 minutes ago, Scotty said:

I don't recall the details as it was close to the time I was emigrating but there was quite the controversy, because it was a per-person cost for your team and being amateur it would put most of them under a lot of strain. The IDAFA was pretty vocal against it and I think this was one of the straws that eventually broke the camel's back in terms of Inverness' membership of the SAFA and eventual withdrawal/expulsion from it. If memory serves me correctly, I think it might have been limited to liability insurance in case your player hurt another team's player rather than insuring your own team's individual players for medical expenses.

 

Oh man, good old liability insurance. Destroying many a great thing that is.

On 6/13/2024 at 12:26 PM, EvilWhiteStripe said:

In this case I would say that it isn't for the SFA to mandate for.

The Players Union should absolutely be advocating for it, and should possibly even be looking into a collective agreement with medical providers that covers all the players it represents.

Ultimately, it is down to the SFA. They are the ones who can add it to the compliance rule book.

We all knew a couple of weeks ago, but here's official confirmation...

At least we are receiving a payment, albeit undisclosed. Presumably whatever the Development Fee is worth. 

Good luck to Cameron I hope he does well.

To be announced on Monday that the first 15 people to buy a season ticket are in the squad for 2024/25.

8 hours ago, STFU said:

To be announced on Monday that the first 15 people to buy a season ticket are in the squad for 2024/25.

Only if they live in the Highlands and Ferguson is prepared to change his mind about managing people like Lewis Hyde and Roddy McGregor.

Until we hear otherwise, according to our stats, this is where we stand at the moment regarding our squad for season 2024-2025

If anyone knows otherwise, please let us know.

Who is in charge? Duncan Ferguson, Gary Bollan, Scott Kellacher, Stuart Garden (GK Coach)

Still Contracted as far as we know

To be confirmed by ICTFC ✅

1. Daniel DEVINE - Contract expired Now, possible contract extension triggered?
2. Nikola UJDUR - Contracted to end of 2025 (was he out of favour or what?)
3. Adam BROOKS - Contracted to end 2025
4. Billy MCKAY - Contracted to end 2025
5. Luis LONGSTAFF - Contracted to end of 2025
6. Charlie GILMOUR  Contracted to end of 2025
7. Lewis NICOLSON - Contracted to end of 2025 (Injured)
8. Jake DAVIDSON - Contracted to end of 2025
9. Remi SAVAGE - Out of Contract - extension triggered
10. Keith BRAY - Back from Elgin City, Contract expired Now?
11. Ethan CAIRNS - Back from Banks O' Dee, Contract expired Now?
12. Matthew STRACHAN - Back from Nairn County, Contract expired Now?
13. Robbie THOMPSON - Back from Spartans, Contract expired Now?
14. Cameron Ferguson - New Signing for 1 year to 2025
15. Jack WALKER - Loaned out to Nairn, Contract end is believed to be end 2025?
16. Calum MACLEOD - Contract expiry believed to be end of 2025?
17. Sam NIXON - Loaned out to Nairn, Contract expiry believed to be end 2025?
18. Calum MACKAY - Loan out to Nairn County Contract now to 2025?

Various Youth Players Loaned Out or used during 23/24 season Most likely all contracted until end of this season. (unsure of some who only filled in when we were short) 

• Jonathan BAIN - Contract not known?
• Shae KEOGH - Contract not known?
• Ben MEACHER - Contract not known?
• Alistair NIXON - Contract not known?
• Sam THOMPSON - Contract not known?

Loans Expired or Contract Expired ❌

• Morgan BOYES - Loan end of season
• Max ANDERSON - Loan end of season
• James CARRAGHER - Loan end of season
• Aribim PEPPLE - Loan end of season
• Alex SAMUEL - Loan end of season
• Sean MCALLISTER - Loan end of season
• Cameron KERR - Loan end of season
• Samson LAWAL - Loan end of season
• Jeremiah CHILOKOA-MULLEN - Loan & Injured
• Austin SAMUELS - Contract ended Now (failed by ICTFC)
• Mark RIDGERS - Contract expired Now (failed by ICTFC)
• Wallace DUFFY - Contract expired Now (no contact from ICTFC)
• Roddy MACGREGOR - Contract expired Now (failed by ICTFC)
• Harry LODOVICA - Injured Contract up for discussion?
• Aaron DORAN - Injured Contract expired Now (abandoned by ICTFC)
• Lewis HYDE - Loaned out to Brora, Contract expired Now?

 

Players Already Gone 

• Cameron HARPER - Contract expired, off to Carlisle United
• Cammy MACKAY  Contract expired off to Brora Rangers on a 3 year deal.
• Nathan SHAW - Injured Contract expired signed for Morton.
• Harry Hennem  Left in January, signed 1.5 year deal at Nairn County.
• Max RAM  Gone.
• David CARSON  Gone to Livingston.
• Zak DELANEY  Gone to Arbroath.
• Cillian SHERIDAN  Went to Queens Park, now free agent.
• Sean WELSH  Gone to Queens Park.
• David WOTHERSPOON  Gone free agent after Dundee United.
• Lewis MACKIE - Contract not known (signed for Strathspey Thistle)

I’m pretty sure Remi Savage is signed for next season as, with Danny Devine triggering his extension, that took us to 9 players.

We can play 5 2 2 (or 3 4 2) and put a jumper between the sticks!

I'd like to see Austin Samuels offered a deal. He's been bombed out of a relegated Championship team, so maybe open to a substantial wage drop. But he should have played. We caught a glimpse of something in the final half of the final game. I think he'd tear up League One.