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As he said, he made it clear to Butcher that he would not be here long term, so it's not as if he deceived anyone when signing for us. One of the things that Butcher insists on (that wasn't done by some previous managers) is that anyone who wants to be a part of this team base themselves in the area. Innes would only have been allowed to spend time at home with his family one or two days a week...maybe a bit longer during the weeks where we never had a game...and that's a big ask of anyone. Would have been easy for him to have viewed his time here as being nothing more than a pay cheque but he's been committed, given his best and done a job for us and we should thank him for that. What's more, any time he's spoken to the press or given an interview he's always spoken highly of the club and how much he likes it here. Don't think he'll have any trouble getting himself a new deal with a club closer to home. In fact, with the exception of maybe the OF, Hearts and Aberdeen (due to location), he'd be a worthwhile signing for any of the rest of the SPL. Took him a couple of games to get settled here, but after that he was fairly dependable and hard working. Had his circumstances been different I would have had no issue with us signing him on a longer deal.

In my opinion, now that it looks like ICT won't get a top six spot this season, it's time to look at what's needed for next season. For me - Goalkeepers Ryan Esson Johnny Tuffey Max Johnson I think I'm right in saying that both Esson and Tuffey are signed up for next season. Obviously these are two class goalkeepers, so there is no real need in bringing another challenger for the number 1 jersey in. I'm not sure what the circumstances are with Max Johnson but he's still a fairly young and up and coming keeper. IIRC he may well be only signed up for this season but it be worth retaining him for another year and he also has experience to a certain level in playing a part in the Newcastle United reserve team. Renegade's Verdict - No need for any new personnel, unless one of the three leaves. Defenders Ross Tokely (Right Back, Centre Back, occasional Left Back, occasional Right Midfielder + often used as a target man striker when goal is needed with time running out) Kenny Gillet (Left Back, can be used at Left Midfield and can play at Centre Back) Grant Munro (Centre Back, occasional Left Back) Graeme Shinnie (Left Back, can also play at left midfield) Chris Hogg (Centre Back, but can play at Right Back) Chris Innes (Centre Back) David Proctor (Right Back, Centre Back, Right Midfield, Central Midfield, occasional Left Back) Stuart Duff (Right Back, Central Midfield, occasional Left Back) Stuart Golabek (Left Back, has been known to play at Centre Back and even more occasionally at Left Midfield) NB - Ross Tokely signed a one year deal at the start of this season, but has the option to sign for another one. On the whole, a feel that Innes offers little in any capacity for the team and him leaving would not be a big loss. Golabek may be old but he may offer some experience and cover for certain areas. I feel that Hogg is a good defender and I'd like to see him stay put. Duff, I'm a little unsure about but perhaps does offer cover in a number of different places. Renegade's Verdict - Punt Chris Innes. Try and bring in perhaps one more centre half, preferably one that has a great deal of height to challenge for a first team spot. Midfielders Lee Cox (Central Midfield, can also play at Right Back) Russell Duncan (Central Midfield, has been known to occasionally fill in at Right Back) Eric Odhiambo (Striker, Right Wing, Left Wing, Attacking Midfield) Roy McBain (Central Midfield, Left Back, Left Midfield) Gavin Morrison (Central Midfield, Left Midfield) Gil Blumenshtein (Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Left Wing, Right Wing, Striker) Nick Ross (Central Midfield, Attacking Midfield, Left Wing, Right Wing) Johnny Hayes (Left Wing, Right Wing) Blumenshtein has been either constantly injured or deemed not good so should not be retained. I feel that despite his bright start to the season, Odhiambo offers little to anything to the ICT squad. He may be quick but he has no first touch, no cross and not much else. His effort levels have also come in to question at times. McBain, like Golabek may be old, but I feel that he may still be able to provide a significant amount of cover and experience for the team. Renegade's Verdict - Punt Odhaimbo and Blumenshtein. Possibly retain McBain. I feel that ICT should look for perhaps one more winger and a good ball playing central midfielder for next season. Strikers Adam Rooney (Striker) Richie Foran (captain) (Striker, Left Wing) Shane Sutherland (Striker, Left Wing, Right Wing) Dani Sanchez (Striker, Attacking Midfield, Left Wing, Right Wing) Obviously retaining Rooney is a big issue and if he is to go and strong goal scoring striker is desperately needed. I'd also look at keeping Dani Sanchez. Renegade's Verdict - Try and retain all current strikers, but even if Rooney is to go, I'd still likely to see another one being brought in. Preferably someone of a Craig Dargo esque physique. End of Loan Aaron Doran Alex MacDonald Renegade's Verdict - I wouldn't complain if either of these two were brought back for next season. Name in: Red is signed up for next season Green is not signed up for next season but efforts should be made to keep them Blue is not signed up for next season and should not be retained Pink is not signed up for next season but should perhaps be retained So what's needed? IMO another striker (maybe two), a big centre half, a central midfielder and probably another fast winger is what's needed for ICT to have a good squad for next season. While I can't think of many names right now, the only one I definitely keen to bring in would be Gregory Tade, as he cover a number of positions and offers a bit of bulk and speed, a combination of two in one is not something that is currently present in the ICT team. Whether he'd come or not is another issue, especially with Raith being in with a chance of promotion. What are your thoughts on what is needed for next season?

Talking of the Likely Lads, I enjoyed the episode where Terry goes through all different countries saying why he dislikes them (everything from Sweden to Saudi Arabia). Then when it's suggested that he's only happy in Britain, he says he can't stand the Scots. Just England...but not the South...and he's never had much time for the Scousers and Mancs. So just the North-East...not that he likes Sunderland mind. He then slags off the part of Newcastle where Bob lives, so it's basically just his street...but he doesn't like his next-door neighbour. So the only place Terry likes is his own home ...and even then he's divorced!

Any chance of Scotty creating a similar thread to that of last year, announcing who is out of contract at the end of the season and what their current status is. I know its still quite early but with our season almost over we will be soon finding out who will be staying and who's going. As of tonight we now know Innes will be offski. I think that leaves 14 players who are now out of contract at the end of the season, quite scary considering i don't feel theres anyone that bad in our team at the moment.

To be honest it doesn't surprise me that this is happening and it doesn't surprise me that it's Lennon that it is happening too. I'm not saying it's right or acceptable, not in the slightest, but life teaches us that certain personalities are more likely to attract this kind of attention. It's no coincidence that in towns and cities throughout the world you can narrow trouble and problems down to certain groups and individuals. It's no coincidence that when it comes to trouble at football matches that it's generally the same names that come up time and again. Many of these people will claim to be innocent victims and say they were only reacting to how they were treated in the first place....but the truth is, for the most part, if you go looking for trouble then you are sure to find it. Lennon is someone who spent his entire playing career looking for and causing trouble both on and off the park and that's something that has continued into his managerial career. He's been playing the "victim of sectarianism" card for so long he's actually started to believe it himself and unfortunately he has a network of people around him who do little to help the situation, and if anything make matters worse by defending his actions or finding loopholes so he doesn't have to serve punishment for them. That doesn't excuse the actions of those sending him bullets and bombs or threatening his life, but I have to say that I have little sympathy for him. His recent claims of "This job makes me a target" are, quite frankly, a load of tosh. If that was the case then everyone who has managed Celtic in the past would have been subjected to the same and they haven't. The rights and wrongs of it don't really matter in the grand scheme of things, the kinds of people predisposed to doing things like posting bullets, bombs and making other similar threats will always exist despite the best efforts of the authorities and Lennon needs to realise that it's his own actions over the years that have made him a target for the attention of these kinds of people. The problem here is not sectarianism, that's just a convenient wall to hide behind so the finger of blame can be pointed at everyone else. The problem is Lennon, an odious wee man with a superiority complex and ego that is constantly stroked, massaged and given justification by the powers who be at Celtic Park.

This is ridiculous...what kind of democratic system allows the delay of a vote because someone knows they aren't going to get the outcome they want? The longer it drags on the more time and money is being wasted on plans and proposals that don't meet the desires of the people. Get the vote over with, scrap the bollocks you've put on the table, resign if you don't like it and allow someone else take over and do the job properly. On the face of it, yes, most of that would make sense....but when you start to peel back the spin and look at each of the proposals in more depth you find they are fundamentally flawed and, IMO, many of them would never come to fruition and are only now being put out there so that if (when) the plans for a 10 team SPL are rejected (if we ever get round to seeing a vote on it) then Doncaster and his cronies can say "look at all these good things we were going to do and you voted against them"....much the same as what happens with lobbying and manifestos etc in the lead up to a General Election. Why must Doncaster play the "all or nothing" card? Why can't things like redistribution of money within the SPL, relaxing stadium criteria, creation of additional relegation/promotion place, obligations towards youth initiatives and the early start/winter break all be introduced without the changes to the league size? No reason I can think of, other than using them to bribe clubs into accepting the 10 team top league and allowing the SPL the remit to take control over the whole game in this country. They can't look after the 12 teams they have already, heaven knows what kind of shambles we'd end up with if they were looking after another 30 teams.

Give me a break!!! Reminds me of the time I got pulled up for playing "Another One Bites the Dust" because it was viewed as winding up the opposition fans. Of course it was, just as Sammy the Tammy did what he did to wind up the opposition fans and just as Neil Lennon did at the end of the OF game to wind up the Rangers fans. It's getting so as you can't breath at a football match without someone taking offence....and they wonder why crowds are falling!!!

Anyone else think that Foran and Doran would have been great names for a couple of Hobbits?

What with the furore surrounding Neil Lennon being sent bullets and bombs in the post it was an act of crass stupidity by all concerned at East End park .