A change in manager, a change in chairman and a top class internationalist are just a few of the highlights.

Here, I have written a personal review of the season trying to include as much as possible. I am sorry for the length of the article, but if anyone can actually finish reading it I will be impressed!!!

Change in manager, change in chairman, highest paid player ever at the club, first ever call up to Euro 2008, another successful player from Ross County, no decent cup runs, trouble behind the scenes, more players leaving than joining, and some questionable team selections, and most importantly, SPL survival. Just another season for Inverness CT really.

Charlie Christie was looking forward to his second full season in charge of his belove Inverness CT. So far in this pre-season, he had brought in Dean McDonald from Gillingham who was a young striker with a good view to goal, Don Cowie who was our regular signing from over the bridge, Steven Watt on loan from Swansea and the biggest signing ever for Inverness CT, Marius Niculae. The Romanian took a big wage cut to join Inverness CT and still broke the wage structure which was to come to question later on in the season. After an initial unsuccessful work permit, an appeal was completed and he was signed ready for the 2nd game of the season, however with no pre-season under his belt, would he start brightly?

The league season started on the 4th August 2007, and it was Rangers who took the first trip of the season to the Highlands . The game was live on Setanta and at 12:30pm, so it was the first SPL game of the season. The new record attendance of 7711, did little to inspire the highlanders as they started with a 3-0 loss. Barry Ferguson scored the first goal of the game. Don Cowie and Dean McDonald both came on as substitutes to make their debuts for the club. Little did they know one would have a great season and one not so great. Next Saturday was a trip to Fir Park to play Motherwell, a venue where Inverness CT had success in the past but not today. I did attend this game, and after a dull 80 mins Ross Tokely scored the clubs first goal of the season. However two late goals, one a penalty ensured Motherwell got the 3pts. Don Cowie opened his account for the club the next week down at Love Street, but another loss this time 2-1 against St Mirren meant the club propped up the SPL with 0pts after 3 games. Little did the fans know what would happen on Monday.

On Monday, to the surprise of the fans, Charlie Christie resigned from his post as head coach stating that the pressures of the job were too much for him. For a local man, the club understood his reasoning, unfortunately though he left the club at the foot of the table. So for another time in their short history, Inverness were on the hunt for a new manager. One of the big names mentioned was Neil Warnock, but at the end of the day that was just speculation and too good to be true. Alan Savage decided to go back to the past for the next manager, with Craig Brewster the preferred option. Brewster left the club to manage his boyhood heroes, unfortunately for him though it didn’t work out with only a few wins to his name, and was sacked after only 1 year. He was currently played his trade at Aberdeen , and had scored 3 goals in 2 games, so not a bad player to get, but was his managerial skills up to the task? The club obviously saw something in him to take him back, and his first task was getting the club off the bottom of the table.

During the selection of a new manager, their was an SPL game at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium which Donald Park took charge for. Better best forgotten this one, with a 3-0 defeat.

Brewster then took charge for the first time, in the CIS Cup 2nd sound at home to Arbroath. A Marius Nicuale double and Dennis Wyness strike gave Inverness a 3-1 win and a safe passage through to the next round, with Steven Watt given his debut and only game of the season. With the transfer window nearing a close, new boss Brewster quickly moved to capture 3 players: Malkowski joined on loan from Hibs for the season to prove competition for Fraser in goals, Phil McGuire joined on loan and David Proctor returned to the club on a 2 year deal. The versatile player can play defence and midfield and returned for his second spell at the club.

September, started with the new managers first league game in charge away to Hibernian, ironically exactly the same venue where he started his first spell with the club. He started himself after scoring 2 for Aberdeen the week before against Hibernian. Unfortunately Hibernian spoiled the return with a 2nd minute penalty after a Stuart McCaffrey handball. Phil McGuire came on as a sub for the injured McCaffrey, and managed to pick his first of many bookings this season.

A week off due to International football, gave Brewster a chance to take his time for the next team selection, away to league leaders Celtic. Even though Celtic thrashed Inverness 5-0, the team gave it a go. David Proctor got his first game back for the club aswell.

After 6 straight losses to start the season, would Inverness get anything at home to Hearts on the 22nd September? An Ian Black own goal gave Hearts a 1-0 half time lead. However the 2nd Inverness the 3pts. Brewster’s overhead kick was a joy to watch and finally we were off the mark. On Wednesday it was back to CIS Cup action and Gretna were brushed aside with a 3-0 victory with goals from Bayne, Wilson and Wyness. Inverness had a 3rd home game in a row against Falkirk on the 29th and recorded their 2nd Inverness half was much better from the home team. Dennis Wyness equalised and then Morgan and Brewster came on as subs to combine to give successive league victory with a 4-2 win. Wyness, Duncan and Black made it 3-2 to and Wyness ensured the victory. So finally we were off the mark, and not too bad a September apart from the 5-0 loss to Celtic.

October would not turn out great with just 1 win. Games against Kilmarnock are always high scoring, and on the 6th October the teams shared a 4-goal thriller, with an own goal and Don Cowie opening his account for the club. Another break for internationals then it was time to entertain Aberdeen on the 21st, a team we still have to beat. Malkowski was given the goalkeepers jersey for the first time in a league game. Aberdeen took the lead after only 8 minutes with a fumble from Malkowski, but Wyness equalised in the 2nd half. Wyness has been making up for no-goals Niculae recently it seems. We seemed happy to settle for a point until yes you guessed it, we lost the lead after a Tokely own goal. Another match against Aberdeen ends in defeat.

Gretna were next up, and then we would have played everyone in the SPL once. Away from home, this was a daunting trip, but the players put on a professional display to dispose of the Raydale side 4-0. Wyness scored within 90 seconds which settled the nerves. Also Cowie, Wilson and a McBain wonder strike made sure of the win and gave Inverness 10pts out of 11 games, not bad after a terrible start. We ended the month on CIS cup duty again, this time away to Aberdeen . Inverness were playing in training tops due to the clash in colours. Think it would have been better sending witches to play this match on Halloween as the players sadly forgot to defend, and lost 4-1. Another cup run comes to an end, but we still had the Scottish cup, right??

November; the month it all began. The month started with a 2-0 loss to Rangers, and a rather disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Motherwell which included 2 sending offs (Bayne and Duncan). Was Brewster actually up to the task of taking us forward? The next 5 games certainly showed the fans that Inverness CT can play good football. A scrappy 1-0 home win against St Mirren, thanks to an early Don Cowie strike, set the ball rolling. The next 4 games were against Dundee Utd, Hibernian, Celtic and Hearts. Surely 12pts from these was impossible.

December was the month to remember. The first match of the month away to Dundee Utd, led to a surprise change in formation by Craig Brewster who went for a 5 man midfield, with lonely striker Marius Niculae upfront. John Rankin who had been unhappy at lack of matches, started this game. A great goal by Ian Black, his 2nd of the season gave Inverness CT a surprising 1-0 against a decent Utd side. Then it was back up north to entertain Hibernian, where finally Romanian internationalist Marius Nicuale got off the mark. His double led to a 2-0 victory, and relief more than anything that Marius had finally scored a SPL goal. Another good victory for the highlanders, next it was the mighty Celtic at home.

On the 16th December, Celtic came calling knowing that they had never lost to Inverness CT in a league game. The Setanta cameras were watching the game. It was this month last year where Inverness CT came from a goal down against Rangers to win 2-1 with a last minute wonder strike from John Rankin. The game started slowly with Celtic creating a couple chances, until Jan Vennegor of Hesselink got his head to the ball on the 24th minute. Two minutes he made it two with a curling effort. Surely no way back now. However just before half time, Marius Niculae ran onto a Rankin through ball and even though he got a shot that went over, the referee pulled it back for obstruction by Pressley and gave a penalty. John Rankin coolly slotted the ball home against ex-ICT keeper Mark Brown. 2-1 at half time, game on. Inverness came out in the 2nd half raring to go and equalised through a David Proctor header. Then with 30 mins left on the clock we took a surprise lead. A long ball was played and Don Cowie had great vision to squeeze in between the 2 defenders and stroke the ball past the helpless Mark Brown. Proctor was sent off for a last man challenge on Scott McDonald 7 mins later, but it ended up being a sacrifice worth making, as we held on and got our first ever league win over Celtic. Also that was now 4 wins in a row, and climbing nicely up the table.

Away to Hearts next in the busy December schedule, and another vital victory. Goals from Duncan and Rankin put ICT 2-0 up but Hearts pulled it back. Hearts goalkeeper got sent off, and since they had used all their subs, Lee Wallace went in goals and Hearts scored the equaliser. A Don Cowie cross was met by Bayne who scored a late winner. The winning streak was to come to an end away to Falkirk on Boxing Day with a 1-0 loss in a dull game, but the year finished on a high with a 3-0 home win against Kilmarnock with goals from Nicuale 2 and Cowie. After a very impressive December with victories over top sides, Craig Brewster picked up the SPL manager of the month and Marius Niculae picked up SPL player of the month.

2008 started away to Pittodrie and another loss to Aberdeen . The first home game of the year ended in a 3-0 win over Gretna . Niculae 2 and Rankin. This would end up being Rankin’s last game for the club before moving to Hibernian. He was left out the side earlier in the season and so decided to leave, even though he had been playing recently. Unfortunately that would be out last win until the beginning of April. During that spell we lost to Hibernian in the Scottish Cup 4th round (3-0), Rangers, Motherwell, Hibernian, Celtic, Hearts, Falkirk, Kilmarnock and . The only points were 2 draws with St Mirren and Dundee Utd. 2pts in 10 games was not great, but during that horrific run, Dougie Imrie who signed during January (instead of Graham Dorrans) made his debut against St Mirren and Iain Vigurs made his starting first team debut against Kilmarnock. Aberdeen

April would turn out better starting with a win against Gretna , all be it a scrappy 2-1 victory in front of the lowest ever SPL crowd of 431. Goals from McBain and another Cowie strike ensured a much needed victory. The challenge was now set from Brewster: Wilson, Wyness and Paatelainen would now be playing for new contracts.

The league split and we were in the bottom half again. In the remaining 5 games we would get 2 wins (against Kilmarnock and Gretna) 1 draw (St Mirren) and 2 losses ( Falkirk and Hearts). Special mention to the Gretna game as we recorded our biggest ever SPL victory with a 6-1 thrashing with 6 different scorers. Goals from Imrie (31 secs), McAllister, Wilson , Cowie, Tokely and a first goal for substitute Vigurs.

The season would end at home to St Mirren, and with it the last game for Dennis Wyness and Richie Hart, but was it the last game for Niculae? And anyone else? Only time will tell.

Special mention to Marius Nicuale who after a successful second half of the season was selected for Romania in Euro 2008. My player of the season was Don Cowie. Also to Alan Savage who left us in April after the Gretna win. Welcome aboard George Fraser as the new chairman and I am sure it will be next season before we, the fans, and see what impact he makes.

Well sorry for boring you to death, realise I wrote far too much but it was just another season in the Highlands . Who knows what next season will bring and where it will take us.