{xtypo_dropcap}W{/xtypo_dropcap}elcome to the June 2009 issue of Boardroom Banter, our regular report direct from club officials to you the fans. In this month's issue we have some follow up to questions that arose from previous issues as well as answers to some new questions posed by fans for this issue.

Some of the questions posed in this month's issue were submitted before the end of the season, some after so there are a mixture of pre and post relegation issues covered. 

 {slide=Item 01: Follow up from previous issues}{tab=Catering} Teaandpies: Why don’t the board look at working with local businesses by sourcing their catering from the Inverness area?  The food is terrible. Imagine catering from Harry Gows?

Club Response: We are unsure what “catering” you are referring to but if you forward an e-mail to Mike Smith at the Stadium we will look in to your complaint.

Old Caley Girl: Please ask this and also if the catering is still under contract could they work with the firm at improving the service for fans.

Club Response: The catering is under contract but we do not control the stock or where our partner sources his catering supplies. We have looked at the severy areas and do intend some form of improvement to the existing systems on match days.

{tab=Disabled View} Caley100: Further to the issue of improving the view of games for our wheelchair user fans, I notice that there is still no change or any signs of improvement! Any positive news?

Club Response: Following various meetings with all the concerned parties it is proposed to introduce a new area for our disabled supporters in front of the main stand this season thus solving any previous issues that may have arisen due to restricted views etc. We trust this new arrangement will allow all fans in the ground to enjoy this year’s matches.

{tab=Strips} Jay_7: Whatever happened to having a competition for the design of the new away shirt? 

Club Response: Unfortunately we did not get round to this on this occasion but will endeavour to do so next time round. This year’s strip has been chosen and will be released shortly. We thank all contributors to strip design on the fans web site and think that the choice of strip bears a distinct resemblance to one or two put forward by the fans.{/tabs}{/slide}

{slide=Item 02: The Future}Comment/question from Supporters:

Martinskye: Presuming by the time this question is discussed we are safe, What aims for ICT does the board hope to complete in the future, say 5 years time? Possibly in terms of league position, stature and in terms of home crowd/fan base.

Club Response: Unfortunately Martin events have somewhat overtaken your question, but our aim, as with any football club in our position is to try and match our income with our cost curve and as you will appreciate this will not be easy next season. It is our intention to provide the management Team with as much financial backing as we can, to facilitate as swift a return to top flight football whilst trying to ensure we live with our financial constraints which we are sure you will appreciate are far more strenuous in the 1st Division.

Cal234ey: What steps will the club be taking to ensure we are financially sound in the years to come? And how do they aim to make a swift return to the SPL? 

Club Response: As stated above we do not intend to forget the prudence of previous years as we strive to bring SPL football back to Inverness. We are still one of the few Football Clubs without any debt, a position we will strive to maintain in the future.

Scotty: What Now? - We have heard rumours of severe cutbacks in several areas of the club, and some of these have manifested in public such as the release of players we might have expected to see at TCS next season, so my question is "What now?". Can the club give a "state of the union" type address that perhaps goes into a little more detail about what we have had to do to adjust to life in division 1. EG. trimming the squad, releasing youth players, consolidating backroom positions.

Club Response: Statements from the Club detailing our current strategy and staffing plans have been well publicised on the official web site, fans web site and the local and national press. It is our intention to continue this open dialogue with the fans as we are fully aware that keeping you abreast of what is happening, as and when the time is right, is very important, but trust you understand that there are some things that cannot be published or discussed in open forum, due to confidentiality issues.

Scotty: Various newspapers immediately after relegation quoted the chairman and others saying they would do everything to get us back up at the first attempt. The season ticket package is also using the "bounce back" scenario in its advertising. Can the club elaborate on these plans as current events (releasing players, Grassa in the papers saying there is no money to spend etc) seems to be diametrically opposed to the chairman's stated intent.

Club Response: We do not think there was a contradiction between what the Chairman and Director of football have stated in the press, and trust that our latest releases from the Club will go some way to explaining our position as we move forward this season. We have, obviously, a vastly reduced income stream this season and unfortunately must cut our cloth to suit this predicament. With regard to the season tickets, we have tried to pitch the price to suit both the ambitions of the Club and our Supporters and thank the fans for what has to date been an excellent response to our ticket sales.{/slide}

{slide=Item 03: Player Sponsorship}Comment/question from Supporters:

Alex MacLeod: In the past if a person sponsored the kit of a player they would be given, at the end of the season, that piece of kit signed by the sponsored player. Someone, in their wisdom, has now decided that the sponsor should, instead, receive a 'unique branded memento'. Do those who make such decisions not realise that most of us who partake in the sponsor scheme do not want a club branded memento, that we can probably purchase anyway, but a memento directly linked to the player we sponsor. Is there such a great saving in not giving the sponsor the piece of kit or do the club feel that the saving far outweighs the risk of losing regular sponsors?

Club Response: All shirt sponsors received a signed replica shirt and sponsors of other kit received a memento. We had excellent feedback from both the fans and the players in response to our sponsor’s night and renewal rates for this season have been excellent. We encourage everyone to continue with their excellent support as it much appreciated.{/slide}

{slide=Item 04: Terracing?}Comment/question from Supporters:

Birdog: Any chance of ripping out those stupid seats so that we can have a wee bit of atmosphere back?

Club Response: There will be no material changes to the stands by way of “ripping out seats” as they would be a very costly item to replace when we return to the SPL. This would make no sense at all given the level of expense that the Club has gone to.

Scotty: One positive of the first division is the possibility of a return of the terracing as this is allowed outside the SPL. Can the club confirm if the west area of the ground will be used as terracing in the 09/10 season.

Club Response: Whilst we understand the fans desire to utilise the West area of the ground as a terracing area we do not intend to go down this route at this time. {/slide}

{slide=Item 05: Museum}Comment/question from Supporters:

CaleyD: Whatever happened to the idea for a club museum? Also, it would be nice if the club could be a little more forthcoming with information. Not only in areas where questions have been asked, but perhaps in regards to other things which might be happening that the club could be sharing information on....is this possible/likely?

Club Response: The idea for a Club Museum was mooted and whilst it would be a nice to have A) we are really short of space at the Stadium as it is and B) we certainly do not have the financial input for something like this at the moment, but it is something we will bear in mind for the future. With regard to release of information all the official statements etc that come out of the Club are under normal circumstances posted on the Official Club Website and in the local press. {/slide} 

{slide=Item 06: Sky Sports}Comment/question from Supporters:

Zoid: Can someone at the club please contact Sky Sports and provide them with up to date pictures of our 1st team squad as well as their place of birth, age, preferred playing position etc? Reason being is if you go to Sky Sports Score Centre on a Saturday and click on line up of ICTFC and then click on a player, for example Richard Hastings you are confronted by an image of Russell Duncan or, worse still, if you click on Grant Munro an image of Stuart Golabek. Not really a major issue I know but I feel it project a more professional image if this information was correct.

Club Response: We have contacted Sky Sports to get them to update our players and thank you for bringing this to our attention. {/slide}

{slide=Item 07: Flags}Comment/question from Supporters:

Renegade: A couple of months back ICT was in the news for removing a Palestine flag due to its "political" and "offensive" connotations. Would ICT take the same action if it were an Israeli flag? What about the Union and Northern Ireland flags carried by Rangers supported and the Irish Republic flags carried by Celtic supporters, both of which have political objectives. Would the club act the same way towards other flags that have a political motive such as Catalonia, Tibet, Basque Country etc?

Club Response: As stated on numerous occasions we as Club do not condone any form of politics or sectarianism being brought in to football. We ask that this type of behavior and form of protest be kept out of football. {/slide}

{slide=Item 08:Youth}Comment/question from Supporters:

Roscoe23: Why are they letting the best young talent we've ever had at the club go so easily?

Club Response: All issues regarding team selection and players we keep or sign are decisions taken by the Management Team / Director of Football and are not influenced by other members of the Board. {/slide}

{slide=Item 09: Butcher's Banter?}Comment/question from Supporters:

Renegade: Could we ever have a one off "Butcher's Banter"?

Club Response: We will put this request to Terry and Maurice to see whether or not they would be willing to contribute to such a proposal. {/slide}

{slide=Item 10:Attendances}Comment/question from Supporters:

Lizi: When attending Away games, the amount of our travelling fans was often announced, usually just after the total crowd number was given (maybe to cause embarrassment?). Can arrangements be made for the amount of travelling fans attending at our Stadium to be announced - this is obviously counted from gate entries? Shouldn't be difficult and would be appreciated. Will be interesting, indeed! Especially when Annan come calling in the CIS Cup.

Club Response: We are not exactly sure why this information is relevant but it is not our intention to announce away fans numbers attending our Stadium as we are unaware of this happening at other grounds. {/slide}

 Please keep the questions coming, whether they are new questions, or whether they are follow-ups to questions asked in this or previous articles.

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