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It musn't happen, and this is why. ICT have already reduced the playing staff budget for next season and have recent experience of making draconian savings as required (when relegated to SFL Division 1 in 2009)There is nothing in the public domain to suggest that this could not be done again if required, and nothing to suggest it would be required. St. Johnstone, Dundee United and Hibernian have likewise all survived that journey. According to received wisdom, this position of cost cutting would be mirrored at every other SPL club except Celtic and so would not place ICT at any further sporting disadvantage. Indeed, Inverness could well be better off than most clubs, given that gate receipts lost from a defunct or relegated to SFL Division 3 Rangers would be compensated for by the addition of local derby income from Ross County’s promotion to the SPL. Last season, Rangers accounted for gates at TCS of: 13.08.11 6,623 26.02.21 6,046 In 2009-10 Season, Ross County games accounted for gates at TCS of: 29.08.09 5,846 30.03.10 5,411 There is no reason that the difference of less than a thousand customers in both cases cannot be made up by the added attraction of the fact that the next round of matches will be in the SPL. There is an added draw in that fans (especially those with families) may be more willing to patronise SPL matches without the rancour and sectarianism displayed by Rangers and Celtic. We need those families to ensure that more kids playing football in Inverness wear ICT shirts, not blue or green ones. We have nothing to fear. The deciding factor for most clubs is the fear that broadcasting rights money from Sky and ESPN will be reduced or withheld because of reduced exposure in the event of the SPL breaching contract to show a minimum number of old firm games per season. This is extremely unlikely for several reasons: ESPN and Sky operating models are based on subscription uptake, not viewing figures. The SPL is such a small part of their overall operation that a fall in viewer numbers will have no impact upon them. The only channels that will suffer are Celtic and Rangers PPV channels. There is no doubt that the first SPL north derby will be an SPL/ Sky broadcast and nothing to suggest that Sky/ESPN income would reduce, and certainly no definitive statement to that effect from the broadcasters. It remains a fear – nothing more than that – that is illogical but powerful until challenged, when it crumbles. There are Leagues aplenty in Europe that are broadcast where one club is seen to rule the roost (even on a temporary basis) Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria are cases in point. We have nothing to fear. All sport is based upon integrity, and any club that disregards this should be punished. Rangers have effectively boosted their playing performance for years by employing people of a standard that they could not afford and subsidising that standard by illegally withholding PAYE and disguising this by issuing double contracts and EBT’s. In effect, this is no better than doping to artificially raise physical standards whilst cheating the regulators to disguise the fact. Not paying tax and using the funds to purchase players like Jelavic from Vienna with no intention of paying in full is cheating. Material difference to games? – he scored against us when he should not have been purchased, never mind been on the field. It is, on every level from a moral to a legal one, wrong. This is a club that has lost it's moral compass completely. There is a further perception that the SPL product would be lessened in its appeal if Rangers were not part of it. This is demonstrably untrue. The removal of one half of a virtual duopoly within the SPL would simply serve to open the League up to more meaningful challenges to the sole part left – Celtic. This season has shown all of our clubs what can be achieved with a level playing field – Motherwell in the Champions League and St. Johnstone in the EUFA league. How can experience like this fail to bring standards up? How can the chance of achieving European status fail to make the League more worthwhile to compete in? How can that chance fail to attract players to our League? If, at some time a Newco Rangers regain SPL status and do so under fair means they should be afforded their place at the European table rightfully and not by default. We have nothing to fear. There seems to be a widespread opinion that Rangers have suffered enough because of the sanctions applied against them already. This is ridiculous – they have committed acts that are at best unsporting and at worst criminally illegal and are unparalleled in Scottish football. They have cheated on a grand scale for years as the previous and present owner have mired them in financial shame. Those within the “institution” who could have and should have whistle blown did nothing. It is clear that Rangers have infringed multiple rules and therefore warrant multiple punishments. The Newco is Rangers and must inherit it's shame. This is how the fans feel. There is no illogical bloodlust to see a wounded Rangers further bleed. There is simply an overriding wish to see right done, and that right exercised by Chairmen next week despite the machinations of the SPL and the Old Firm. There is nothing to fear.

I dont want to be a spokesperson for Rangers .. but as I have posted numerous times, you cannot compare Livi / Clydebank / Gretna / Dundee or any other team who faced sanctions/administration/liquidation to the current Rangers situation. The ONLYteam to have faced sanctions by the SPL (before Rangers) were Gretna. They were deducted 10 points and at the end of the season, relegated (by way more than 10 points). At this point they ceased to be a member club of the SPL and became a member club of the SFL. The SFL then sought assurances from them that they would be able to fulfill the next season's fixtures and when they could not, they were demoted to the bottom of the SFL's own structure (ie. D3) and subsequently went into liquidation. The same applied to Livi when the previous owner was playing silly beggars in the SFL's eyes. Already in D1, they could not guarantee to fulfill fixtures as a result of council action over the stadium and were also demoted to D3 and began their climb back up the divisions. Dundee were hit with the 25 point penalty by the SFL after going into administration for a second time ... the first time it happened they were in the SPL and received absolutely no penalty. Livi also received no penalty for going into Admin when in the SPL and Motherwell also escaped punishment so as much as many folk would like to say Rangers should be hammered and dropped to D3, it would be a far more savage punishment handed out than any of those that were vaguely comparable. In a sensible world, where the national sport had a singlegoverning body instead of three major ones and several other ones for various non-league bodies like junior, welfare, HFL, etc then dropping them to the bottom of the structure would make sense, and I would probably support that notion, but in reality, the SPL cannot drop Rangers to the bottom of someone else's league structure even if they wanted to...... you want to get pissed off at the SPL? then get pissed off at the cluster**** way in which Scottish football is organised (or disorganised). We dont need 3 governing bodies with three sets of rules and with built-in preferential treatment for some over the others, and making rules up as they go along ... we need a single entity controlling however many leagues we end up with and with set punishments for breaching certain rules including the option to relegate from top to bottom ... However, we need to draw a line in the sand, change things now and apply punishments moving forward. We cannot apply these retrospectively, we cannot let (some) use the situation for 'revenge' on Rangers but equally it does stick in the craw that the SPL can basically do whatever they like in terms of inviting Rangers (newco) into the fold as a replacement for Rangers (screwed-co) As for Caley Thistle ? Thats entirely different. I am a Caley Thistle supporter, have always been one since formation, and will always be one whether we are in SPL or any other division. My situation does not allow me to get to games very often, but you can rest assured that when planning future trips back home, it will not co-incide with games against Rangers.

Getting back to the OP's question, I would still support my team but I would not put a penny of my money into Ranger's coffers if I could help it. Of course, not going to Doncaster Ranger's matches could potentially hurt ICT through lost revenue but that is easily remedied for those of us who are not season ticket holders simply by going to another match I otherwise might not have attended. If my club voted to keep Rangers in the league I would be unhappy with that and would probably write to the club to express my anger at their decision - but I would not stop supporting the club. The club is a lot more than the Board.

For me, the sanctions matter not a jot and only serve to cloud the issue. It's not even about the NewCo being founded off the back of the demise of an existing club/business. The bottom line is that we have a system in place whereby new teams should start from the bottom an earn their place in the top league. Allowing a new team to bypass that setup for whatever reason, but especially financial reasons, makes the whole thing a farce. If you want to talk about precedents then ICT is the biggest of them all. We were a NewCo entering the league setup and we had to start from the bottom. Could you imagine the response we would have got had we requested entry straight in to the SPL? I am an ICT fan, I will always be an ICT fan. ICT are not the Board, they are not the current decision makers...and if those people were to support the admission of a NewCo straight in to the SPL then my disappointment would be with them. I would then find myself in a position I have found myself in the past whereby I have to decide if my disappointment at the people running the club outweighs my desire to attend games and all the other stuff that is a part of my being a supporter. I honestly have no idea where my feelings would sit on that as I appreciate that Club Boards probably face one of the hardest decisions they've ever had to make. Sell out and ensure their club books balance a little easier for a few seasons until they can hand over the reins (nobody wants to risk failure on their watch), or take a stand and face the hard work that comes with having the courage of your convictions. My biggest fear is the damage that would be done to board/fan relations. We've had situations in the past which have done damage there, situations which we have never fully recovered from. It's taken years to reverse some of the feelings in that regard, but IMO real progress has been made in the past couple of years. The above is a scenario that has been played out at every club at some point in time to varying extents, but I dread to think what the league would become if it was a scenario played out at the majority of clubs at the same time and to the potential extent which is being indicated by fans views. There's a very real possibility that if the SPL allow a NewCo to walk straight in to the league then TV, Sponsorship, Sanctions etc could be the least of their worries. We could end up with a league full of teams which would, quite literally, pull themselves apart. Clubs exist because of the fans, not despite them. Not something that can always be said of those who ru(i)n the game in Scotland.

I can confirm Terry gave me a ring this evening and I'm dusting off my boots.

Players are on holiday. Managers are on holiday. Indeed everyone exept the journalists are on holiday. So easy for them to sit on their arses and search the web for players who are out of contract then link them to one team or the other. Christ! Who's going to deny the stories? Everyones on holiday

type in eticketing.co.uk and select SPL then ICT, I havent provided a link seeing as a payment card is involved. Nothing in life is free so I would imagine it would save the club money if you either turned up at the Stadium or just phoned them up and paid for it over the phone. I have tried the MFR link on the HN article in the opening post but cant find anything for ICT You can renew online or buy new seats, if you want to change seats you need to contact the club direct. Thanks, Have tried that and it says season tickets on sale soon, ICTfc club site states available to buy online but seems pretty well impossible which seems pretty poor in this day and age as most other clubs seem available, even the renewal letter stating to try mfr.co.uk and quote reference number doesn't seem to work I just went to the stadium, so canne help you. You would think it would be as easy as possible to help folk, but hey ho. You'd be best just phoning them bud. looks like its the only option cheers, will sort it before next week to get early bird discount

type in eticketing.co.uk and select SPL then ICT, I havent provided a link seeing as a payment card is involved. Nothing in life is free so I would imagine it would save the club money if you either turned up at the Stadium or just phoned them up and paid for it over the phone. I have tried the MFR link on the HN article in the opening post but cant find anything for ICT You can renew online or buy new seats, if you want to change seats you need to contact the club direct.

Can we sign lee crofts bird?

The existing Club have received punishment...opinion will differ on whether that is seen as just or not. I also agree that any new company should not be subjected to punishment....but they should also not be allowed automatic entry to the SPL. If they want to be treated as a continuation of the existing club and argue their right to a place in the SPL, then they must accept ALL that comes with arguing that case. This idea of taking "all that's good" and just casting off the bad stuff and stuff they don't like is ludicrous. Life does not, and should not, work like that. Where's the moral compass in all this? Has society become totally bereft of the concepts of accountability? If "Rangers" want to walk away from all the bad crap then they have to walk away from everything and that includes a league membership and position which was gained by foul means. If they don't, then they have to accept accountability and punishment for what has happened. In no other business would a case of "Business not liable for the actions of it's owners/directors" be admissible, let alone argued. I honestly find it totally incredible that the SFA and/or SPL (and its member clubs) are even giving the slightest consideration to allowing a NewCo (New Club) direct entry to the countries top league. Put a cross on the calender because this could be the event that officially marks the moment the world went mad.

I reckon he'll sign for them and could do a good job if paired with a decent strike partner .

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream

"Well I am a Caley fan - and I'm an Invernessian - They can do what they want - cos I dont give a feck - cos I want to be ICT." The simple logic to follow is to stay away from Castle Greyskull - find a pub with Jeff Stelling on a large screen - "get pissed - destroy". "Anarchy in the SPL" - Johndo Rotten

You can rest assured that Doran will not "kick on there". I certainly don't want to see him have anything to do with ICT. His own thoughts on how he'd perform for us against the club which has his allegiance is nothing short of disgusting. Actions speak louder than words. You obviously weren't at the 3-2 win against his "club which has his allegiance" where he was emense. So do one. Stop trying to s**t stir. He's a good player. But you will obviously never be happy.

Smith could be the next Andy shinnie. He's our top assisted in the Scottish cup yknow

A lot of people seem to be getting caught up in the whole "retrospective punishment" issue. Bottom line, there's no rule which says that the SPL must allow a share transfer and entry to a NewCo. If you accept that a NewCo should be allowed entry at all....then surely they can't expect the retrospective benefit of a rule change that allows such a thing without facing the retrospective punishments which are attached???

Scotty, there are 2 huge differences here. Firstly, none of the clubs you mention who went into administration whilst in the SPL were reformed as a Newco. The only way a club should get into the SPL is by winning the SFL. If an existing club goes out of business and a vacancy arises it should be filled either by the team which finished 2nd in the SFL or by reinstating the team which was relegated. There is no reason why a Newco should be admitted - after all, had the failed club been responsible in managing it's affairs, paid it's debts and taxes and signed playing staff appropriate to the resource legitimately available, there is no guarantee that they would not have been relegated in any case. Why should they receive preferential treatment for acting irresponsibly rather than responsibly? The second point is that even if some unpleasant wheeling and dealing goes on which leaves creditors millions of pounds out of pocket but allows the original club to come out of administration, there is no meaningful comparisson with other clubs who have been in administration. We should not be saying that clubs all receive a standard 10 point deduction for going into administration. It is like saying that a wee child who pockets a pack of sweeties from Tesco should be punished the same as the great train robbers - "well, theft is theft so treat them all the same". The scale of Rangers mismanagement is of a different order of magnitude and the punishment should therefore also be of a different order of magnitude. Throwing them out of the SPL would be perfectly reasonable because it would be giving a message that this level of financial mismanagement is not acceptable. Remember, paying for players they could not afford cheated the legitimate hopes and honest endeavours of other clubs to succeed and the SPL should see Rangers actions as hostile to fellow members and expel them. It would then be up to the SFL (or the English leagues) to consider whether or not they wished to allow them into their system. If the SPL does not have the moral guts to expel Rangers then at least the points penalty needs to be in proportion to the level of "crime". 3 points a game might be reasonable so that they started on minus 114. At least that would give them a fighting chance and they could still pip County on goal difference on the last day of the season.

It's all well and good saying there is no money for a trip away to England or abroad but the point is that the pre-season games have got to prepare us for tough SPL games right at the start of the season. A good start is important to get points on the board because failure to get those early points might be the difference between relegation and survival, or top six or not. Matches against Wick and Huntly will prove very little, We need to assess how new members of the squad can perform against quality opposition so that the correct line up, properly prepared is in place for the first game of the season. Shelling out to pit ourselves against some quality English opposition might prove to be a very sound investment.

Have Rangers Supporters in the guise of the Rangers Supporters' Assembly (why do they have always to be so triumphalistically grandiose - why can't they just have a Supporters' Club or Trust like everyone else?) not actually themselves provided a substantial argument for the SPL not to allow Rangers to remain a member club? What the RSA has said is that Rangers fans should boycott away games against other clubs if the SFA's sanctions are upheld. So, given that the main argument for allowing Rangers to remain in the SPL is that they provide revenue for other clubs, then has that not therefore been removed by the RSA's statement?

If Rangers are allowed to stay as a Newco with no sanctions then they will have been granted that by the SPL member clubs. That would say to me that all the clubs condone what Rangers have done and, therefore, all the clubs, including ICT, will be guilty of failing to support sporting integrity.

Cutting it off might not have been necessary if you'ld taken antibiotics.

Having been to more Forres games than ICT games this season I am going to claim the role as chief scout... There is a pair of 18/19 year old twins at Forres, Lee and Graham Fraser, who are way beyond HL standard, they used to be at County but upon leaving school and getting full time apprenticeships at a building firm they decided to play their football closer to their home. There was rumoured interest from Newcastle in one as well as definite interest from Aberdeen so its not just me who rates them. One is a centre forward, who made a complete mess of David Proctor in the NoS Cup Final and finished the season as Forres' top scorer with 17 goals despite his season being cut short in January by a broken knee cap, the other wants to be a centre half but has been playing as a full back for the Can Cans and been bloomin excellent. There are definitely unpolished gems to be unearthed in the HFL and it is a great breeding ground for youngsters. The difference in Graeme Shinnie following his Forres loan spell was quite phenomenal. Which begs the question why we don't farm out more youngsters? Surely a season in the HL is worth far more than a season playing U19s