Welcome to the third Issue of Boardroom Banter. The Club's attempt to keep you, the fans, informed about what is going on at Caledonian Stadium.

MONTHLY OPEN LETTER TO FANS Issue 3 - December 2002

Following on from certain comments on the website/media etc. re Steve Paterson's contract - signed or not - we would like to clear up a few points.

1. If Steve opts for the Aberdeen post, being realistic, the compensation for Steve, no matter the figure, will be the same had he signed/ agreed to sign his deal with us or not as we had an agreed compensation figure with Steve no matter who approached, a figure we believe to be fair and reasonable in today's climate. If Steve chose to walk from his current contract which, as you know, runs until the end of this season a figure would have then to be set by a tribunal who are notorious for low figures of compensation.
2. Graham Bennet has received unwarranted abuse regarding the contract situation. He is dedicated to the club and works tirelessly on its behalf and gives his time and commitment to the club freely, as do all the Directors, a point that is sometimes overlooked.
3. There were no clauses in Steve's contract regarding the Aberdeen Manager's job despite speculation to the contrary and we confirm that he has had his contract for almost two weeks now but as you know has chosen not to sign it. The timing of the Skovdahl resignation could not have been worse for the club. Did we see it coming, no, and nor did anybody else.
4. This Board, as did previous Boards, had an unwritten agreement with Steve that at any time, if a Premier club were to seek his services or the chance to discuss this possibility with him we would not stand in his way. After what Steve and his backroom staff have achieved at the club we felt we had to honour this agreement.

Obviously we cannot pre-empt the situation with Steve but we feel we have offered him a contract that is commensurate with our league and financial position and offered to him, Duncan and the club stability over the next 5 years as we move forward with our ambitions to be a Premier club.

We did take on board what was said at the E.G.M earlier this year and have tried to be more open with you than the previous Boards but while on this occasion it may have slightly backfired on us, we intend to continue this open forum as long as you find it beneficial. This is not boardroom spin as this was not and is not our intention.

We have still not given up on the possibility that Steve may remain at the club but obviously this is in Steve's hands and he and only he can make this decision.

Whether or not Steve should choose to remain at the club we must get back to the important task in hand, winning the First Division, and we hope that this unfortunate situation does not distract from our push for the title.

The circumstances surrounding the offers and discussions with Aberdeen have been at best uncertain and it has been impossible to make clear statements in public, as we would have liked. Only now are matters clarifying and we will endeavour to keep you informed as to developments regarding the management of the team.