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:

51 minutes ago, STFU said:

At no time was this the ask of the fans.

I respectfully disagree.

The fans asked for a few things, including - Transparency, Accountability, Get rid of Gardiner, Get rid of Big Dunc, Recruit more local players.

Of these, only the last has happened so far, although I suspect that was more out of necessity than fan pressure.

Still, we've got a wee bit of what we wanted!

 

Edit: Oh aye, we wanted rid of the Kelty nonsense. Got that too!

 

Edited July 3, 20241 yr by buckett

"The fans" are not a uniform, homogenous group. Some fans have got some of what they asked for and others haven't. For some, playing a team of local boys, binning Kelty, the resignation of the chairman (presumably this forms part of the 'accountability' that is being demanded), and the future departure of the CEO will be enough to entice them back to support the team this season. Others won't be back until Duncan is gone, and some others won't be back until we are winning again and in a higher league.

1 hour ago, Stephen Malkmus said:

"The fans" are not a uniform, homogenous group. Some fans have got some of what they asked for and others haven't. For some, playing a team of local boys, binning Kelty, the resignation of the chairman (presumably this forms part of the 'accountability' that is being demanded), and the future departure of the CEO will be enough to entice them back to support the team this season. Others won't be back until Duncan is gone, and some others won't be back until we are winning again and in a higher league.

Lots in this category, believing we have some divine right to sit at the top table with no substantial backer and a miniscule fan base.

Edited July 3, 20241 yr by Satan

4 hours ago, STFU said:

The club was being thrown off a cliff and fans were basically told they could have Kelty or Administration.  Fans said they'd rather take a chance with administration than back a club that no longer connected with the local community.  It was the club who then decided to go with a squad made up of a majority of young local players.

At no time was this the ask of the fans.

The fans at the ST meeting definitely made the distinction between Kelty or cost cutting at home.

2000 odd souls on the petition also gave Kelty the two fingers, and many of those would have a fair idea of what risks and actions would follow. 

Edited July 3, 20241 yr by Satan

2 hours ago, buckett said:

I respectfully disagree.

The fans asked for a few things, including - Transparency, Accountability, Get rid of Gardiner, Get rid of Big Dunc, Recruit more local players.

Of these, only the last has happened so far, although I suspect that was more out of necessity than fan pressure.

Still, we've got a wee bit of what we wanted!

 

Edit: Oh aye, we wanted rid of the Kelty nonsense. Got that too!

 

Calling for the younger local players to be given more opportunity is not the same as asking for a squad almost entirely made up from them.

I get that what we have is a result of the financial situation and I accept that but it is not what fans asked for.  For me it's still preferable to the Kelty nonsense.

The way that this situation was put to fans and then how things developed from there means that what was happening was choices being made.  It may be seen as hair splitting but choosing least worst options is not the same as asking for something.

The board, chairman and ceo are responsible for putting us in this hole and they can't be allowed to pin blame for the consequences of that on the fans.

It's staggering to me that some people (not aimed at you) still want to put any faith in the current leadership to navigate us out of this.  It's like some perverse form of Stockholm Syndrome or something!

Conner Bunce scored seven goals for Clach tonight. Local lad. Sign him up 🤣

As of 8th July this is our current squad contracted for this season.

Who is in charge?

Duncan Ferguson, Gary Bollan, Scott Kellacher, Stuart Garden (GK Coach)

Players contracted for season 2024/2025

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

We have used a few others in pre-season, not sure if given contracts yet

1. Shae Keogh
2. Ben Corner
3. Szymon Rebilas (GK) Youth player
4. Adam MacKinnon (Trialist: No11 @ Raith)
5. Flynn Duffy (Trialist: No3 @ Raith)
6. Callum Haspell (Trialist: No2 @ Raith)

We will do very well simply to to avoid relegation from League 1 this season.  The important thing for the coming season is survival as a club rather than survival in league 1.  What happens off the park will be more important than what happens on the park.  This season needs to be about a new Board and a new administrative lead working with the supporters to develop a more sustainable business model and an operational strategy to move forward.  The focus for the club for coming season must be that this time next year we can realistically look forward to the new season with optimism.

On a footballing level my expectations for this season are low.  It is good we still have a smattering of more experienced players but there is no getting around the fact that the bulk of the squad will be youngsters who have had very little or no experience at this level.  On the plus side, it is a great opportunity for them to demonstrate that they can play at this level.  Unfortunately, they are going to be asked to play in a style which is unlikely to be successful and which will be extremely boring to watch.  Inevitably fans are going to be frustrated but we need to remember that the situation we are in is not the players fault.  As fans we need to give these lads as much support as we can and direct our ire at those responsible for the mess we are in.  

 

19 minutes ago, DoofersDad said:

We will do very well simply to to avoid relegation from League 1 this season.  The important thing for the coming season is survival as a club rather than survival in league 1.  What happens off the park will be more important than what happens on the park.  This season needs to be about a new Board and a new administrative lead working with the supporters to develop a more sustainable business model and an operational strategy to move forward.  The focus for the club for coming season must be that this time next year we can realistically look forward to the new season with optimism.

On a footballing level my expectations for this season are low.  It is good we still have a smattering of more experienced players but there is no getting around the fact that the bulk of the squad will be youngsters who have had very little or no experience at this level.  On the plus side, it is a great opportunity for them to demonstrate that they can play at this level.  Unfortunately, they are going to be asked to play in a style which is unlikely to be successful and which will be extremely boring to watch.  Inevitably fans are going to be frustrated but we need to remember that the situation we are in is not the players fault.  As fans we need to give these lads as much support as we can and direct our ire at those responsible for the mess we are in.  

 

Does this involve buying tickets, either game by game or season ticket purchase? Regardless of CEO removal the staff we currently have (and still require!) need to be paid, and from what I'm hearing the cash flow inwards is currently just a trickle.

38 minutes ago, Satan said:

Does this involve buying tickets, either game by game or season ticket purchase? Regardless of CEO removal the staff we currently have (and still require!) need to be paid, and from what I'm hearing the cash flow inwards is currently just a trickle.

It simply means giving encouragement to the players and not blaming them for poor results regardless of whether you choose to attend games or not.

30 minutes ago, DoofersDad said:

It simply means giving encouragement to the players and not blaming them for poor results regardless of whether you choose to attend games or not.

How do you encourage them if you're not there?

You can have all the platitudes online or in the press but without a support physically watching them play I don't suppose they will feel particularly encouraged, playing for a manager who didn't previously rate them and is just throwing them to the wolves to emphasise his point(s).

The only other matter that is on such a sad level with ICTFC at the moment is the Biden v Trump presidential election farce. 

We're all doomed!!!!!!!

If we do survive, I’m fully expecting back to back relegations - don’t see any other outcome with the sorry state we find ourselves in 🙁

59 minutes ago, CaleyCanary said:

If we do survive, I’m fully expecting back to back relegations - don’t see any other outcome with the sorry state we find ourselves in 🙁

Never. We have Billy Mckay in our team. Don't think he's ever been relegated? 😭

Clyde fans on P&B suggesting that we are in for Jordan Allan, Falkirk striker.

Don't know anything about him but hope he's better than the last striker we took from falkirk as he was dug meat

He looks to have had a decent scoring record in the last couple of years, mainly when at Clyde and then back on loan to them from Falkirk.

He'll have to be some player if he's aiming to get a look in when even Ferguson jr is struggling to get off the bench. 

Courier reporting that Nico off to Queens Park is imminent, they say by the end of the week so I presume that will mean he's gone tomorrow then we can maybe add one in, preferably Adam MacKinnon 👍👍. It also states (as a quote from 🤡 press conference) that other "first team experienced players" are linked away but any bids will be rejected as we need them.

 

Sorry to see him go. I thought he was the best player Dudds signed. Another keeper next?

Edited July 18, 20241 yr by Row S

His head is still on the official site in our first team squad.

So we can still claim him as ours.

Great player, too good for us at the moment.

Courier stated that DF looking at SEVEN trialists in the hope Nico leaves. Surely Nico not on enough wages to cover 7 new additions 😳😳😳😳😳!

7 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

Courier stated that DF looking at SEVEN trialists in the hope Nico leaves. Surely Nico not on enough wages to cover 7 new additions 😳😳😳😳😳!

Like with applicants for any job, he'll see what they've got and maybe pick the most suitable one, or two, or maybe three.

10 hours ago, CaleyTennis85 said:

Courier stated that DF looking at SEVEN trialists in the hope Nico leaves. Surely Nico not on enough wages to cover 7 new additions 😳😳😳😳😳!

No but likely the club will have paid accommodation and relocation along with salary and any other support, so as a complete package his monthly outlay to the club may be better transitioned elsewhere if its one out and more than one coming in.

If only the club did something positive to temp fans to put money into the club!!!

For instance, ask Scot Gardiner to announce his final day of employment but at least confirm rumours about him staying are false.

In the light of the IT meltdown extend the date for discounted season ticket sales by two weeks. Innovate by saying season tickets will be discounted after each home game to reflect remaining fixtures.