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So, let's see.... Butcher was criticised for getting us relegated coz he played Tokely at centre-back. Tokely should also not play for ICT again as he's 4th, 5th and 6th choice as centre-back. He's too slow, too rash and cost us a number of goals. Tokely should also stay as he's a great centre-back. Proctor also must stay as he's ICT through and through, even though he only came back after failing elsewhere. Proctor is terrible and should never play for ICT again. Proctor will be a great signing for Ross County - we should never have let him go. Butcher should never have signed Golabeck as he was past his best. He should also sign Duncan after Ross County decided he wasn't good enough for SFL1, so went to Peterhead. Munro needs to getaefeck as all he does is hoof-the-ball. Munro should have never been sold. Buthcer has ripped out the heart of ICT by not keeping McBain, Golabeck, Hastings and all those others that were no longer SPL quality. Meanwhile, he can't replace them with any quality. Which is why Golobart was never player of the year, we're desperate to get rid of Tade, Gillet and Hayes and we're expecting nothing from A.Shinnie or Doran next season. David Davis. Another failure. As was Tansey, which is why Motherwell were after him. What would Stuart McCall know about potential? Hayes would be better off going to a club where it will be almost impossible to get spotted, as long as it's in England. After all, anywhere in England is better than the SPL. Meanwhile, we should try to sign Black from Hearts and get Rooney on loan from Birmingham. Even though we're desperate for any players with a hint of quality not to sign for any other SPL clubs, we will also bemoan the lack of quality in the SPL. We have no money yet should be able to sign a load of great players for free, whilst acknowledging we can't compete with other SPL clubs, both in terms of finance and location. The likes of Eagle, Stratford etc prove this, even though they cost very little and we went up first time of asking and almost achieved a top six finish. We also wasted a lot of money on Tuffey...who we should offer a new contract to. However, we should forget about that as we were almost relegated this season, finishing only a mere 14 points above Dunfermline and beating a Hibs side that spent vastly more than us. Nevetheless, we should be playing more flowing football on a budget far below the Brazil-like Aberdeen, who finished far above us on two points more. Butcher should play Ross, G.Shinnie and Sutherland more. CTO begged for G.Shinnie to be dropped after a dip in form, although he shouldn't have been dropped. Gillet should have been brought back earlier too. Although neither Shinnie or Gillet should be played out of position. So two left-backs then. Ross isn't strong enough to play regularly and should be loaned out. We should also build the team around him. Ross played 32 games this season. Ross also didn't play much this season. Sutherland should get his chance. Sutherland did and showed he isn't the answer. Why didn't Sutherland play more? We should sign more Highland players, even though we don't know any capable of playing in the SPL. We should though look to the SFL, even though Tade wasn't SPL quality, which is why St Johnstone are after him and he rejected us. But we should take a chance on SFL players to get us some goals, apart from Rory McAllister as he wasn't any good as a teenager but is a superior goalscorer to anything in the SFL 2 or 3. We should sack Butcher and get Robbo in, even though, in a vote, CTO voted for Butcher above Robbo. A more experienced manager is the answer, such as Jimmy Calderwood, Jim Jefferies or Bobby Williamson - all of whom aren't the solution. A young manager with potential should be brought in as long as he's experienced as we can't rely on untried managers. If you think Butcher deserves a chance after doing better than expected two seasons out of three, then you're a happy clapper thinking everything is rosy in the garden. If Butcher doesn't improve the club's fortunes, then he should never have been hired. Just as long as we're being consistent here.

What we all have to remember, when blaming Butcher for anything and evrything, is that its the youth coaches who recommend any promotions. They are the people who see, not only the players ability but his attitude. An example......Ian Vigurs.....Excellent player with delusions of granduer. Trust me I know how he has portraid himself and all he has said about where he should be playing. Same guy, if w believed all that he spouts, has one again signed for County. quote..."my Ian is so good he has asked me if I could live abroad". Please dont question the source......suffice to say his bideein is from Perth. That attitude is probably why Vigurs was let go. That attitude is unhealthy if you are a youth trying to make the big time. I'll say to anyone who wants to make it. You are never bigger than the club. You are never bigger than the managers but if you keep your nose clean and you have the ability then you can have greatness. Remember that the coaches are trying to help you.........not the other way around.

Going to laugh my t*ts off if this turns out to be Jonny playing the ultimate wind-up on Aberdeen.

I got my one because I support the team not the league, I'm not having a pop at anyone it's just how I feel ;-)

You really need treatment - what you are doing is expressing the negative views of frustrated individual posters, rather than the realistic average. You have already totally misrepresented what I have said in the past. It is YOU that is now focussing on all the negatives !! The stress must be getting to you as this is a feckin football forum where the sharing of often diverse views and perceptions is the name of the game. You are really coming across as one bitter and tunnel visioned individual. Chill out man and have a red wine with yer icon !!

The club are going to risk losing out on hundreds of pounds just to save themselves the cost of a stamp....are you for real!!!! Given the volume of letters sent...and having helped put the renewal packs together I know there were thousands...then it's not beyond the realms of possibility that a few would go astray within the postal system and it's also not beyond the realms of possibility that of those then more than one would be a user on here.

Renewed mind.only made about half the games last season but it's times like these when the chips are down the real supports rally round and back there team.

Im renewing mine the clubs doing what they can, they have made a great offer with this "recession ticket" and the rangers scenario isn't anything to do with them.i don't see why the club should suffer over the rangers scenario as its not do with us. I feel like we are an innocent child caught up in a parents feud.

Ive renewed mine but Im despondant with the way large clubs run the SPL, the SFA and anyone else who is of any use to them.

No I am not worried, concerned yes, at the momment but bide a while 'till the new lads arrive. There is still strength in the skeleton of the team, with new signings and loanees T&M could yet come up with a very much improved side. And to all those negativity minded rizzoles:- Whatever the outcome of pre season selection give the lads a chance before slagging them off. Show a bit more support, be more positive with your posting get behind the team and give them a great deal more encouragement than you have done this season past. As the catch phrase goes.............. every little helps............................ :love02:

It'll take alot worse than the Rangers debacle to get me to start supporting Clach.

The club are going to risk losing out on hundreds of pounds just to save themselves the cost of a stamp....are you for real!!!! Not to put words in Fraz's mouth, I think the comment was meant tongue in cheek

What about Irvine? Our new elustripis signing?

And a bit more after the official statement - well done Kenny Caley Thistle chairman Kenny Cameron is stressing that the club has had 'a positive' response from several new players they are keen to sign. The departure of Gregory Tade and Greg Tansey and the fact that Jonny Hayes' agent today says he will sign for Aberdeen have created spaces in the squad that manager Terry Butcher is already making progress on filling. "Terry and Maurice Malpas have been working hard on prospective targets as we wait to see if our remaining out of contract players accept their new offers", said Cameron. "I cannot say too much at this stage as potential incoming players are still under contract elsewhere, but several of them have responded in a very positive manner to our initial approaches and we are quietly confident of new arrivals. "The number of new faces we require will depend on how many of our out of contract players decide to leave. But our management team are pulling out all the stops to ensure we have adequate cover for all positions." The chairman added:"This time we intend to have most of the squad -- and all of them, if we can manage it -- in place for the start of pre-season training on June 29. It's very important that all our players gain the benefit of our pre-season training regime, something that quite a few missed out on last year. "As far as our out of contract players are concerned, we have made the best offers possible in the club's current financial position. In light of the changes to the SPL rules, it is imperative that we cut our cloth to suit our income as we move forward."

Disappointed Hayes seems to be leaving. Glad he seems to be staying in Scotland. With Hearts on the way down and Craig Brown/Archie Knox at the helm, I think Aberdeen could do well next season. That's a number of decent players they're after. Won't get them all of course but can see them battling with DU for a good Euro-spot next year. That's got to be better for the Scottish football fan than seeing if Jonny got subbed at Colchester in the Sunday Post.

I'm scared to comment.

He will sign for them, it's a no-brainer for Jonny there's a Nando's in Aberdeen...

Aberdeen? Really? What an odd move if it goes through. Jonny is a far better player than that and I'm surprised that he would see it as his best move. Aberdeen have a horrific amount of debt and by all accounts if they sign Jonny thats a good chunk out of any avaialble wage budget unless further players move on. Considering the money isn't that much better (and its not) I can;t see the attractiveness of a sideways step when Jonny should be aiming higher. I can't help but feel that this might all be down to his agent looking for a quick buck.

If Aberdeen really is the best offer on the table, he needs a new agent, seriously.

Luke I admire you unflinching postivity towards everything ICT, I hope its not to big a shock when you realise everything is not as rosy as you think

Squad decimated and a Manager with an aweful record of panic signing duds. He'll be under more pressure than ever to unearth good players and quite frankly I cant see that being possible. The decision to only keep one of our U19s seems more and more outrageous by the day. I'm going to make a prediction that 1 month into the season we'll be making the same complaints of terrible loan signings who dont care, no passion etc etc. All this when we could have been giving a couple of the young lads a chance.

If he wanted to play in a large empty stadium, then surely he'd find more satisfaction in signing for Queens Park?

Extremely dissapointed losing Hayes to Aberdeen, really thought he would have shown more ambition than that. I can see why Tade moved, he wont be on much more than he was here in terms of wages but the lure of playing in Europe is one i can fully understand. Wonder if our club will ever realise that offering 1 year deals and waiting till their contract expires before offering them a new deal is getting us nowhere and if we continue to do it then we will get relegated sooner rather than later. TB said last year that he wanted to rebuild the team (which he did to a lot of grumbles) and then retain them at the end of this season so that we can push on. It is blatantly clear that this has not worked due to the majority of the team being able to speak to other clubs after 6 months of signing. Hope lessons have been learned and now it is pretty much back to square one and we are going to have a pretty big rebuilding job on our hands again this year Have to say that todays news has left me very down about next season. I have real fears about our survival in the league next year

Yes indeed "last night" is a real favourite of newspapers when they try to kid the public that they're not really hours behind more rapid response media such internet, radio and TV. For instance you might get something like: "Ex Rangers stopper Terry Butcher LAST NIGHT swooped from his secret Highland hideaway to snap up crack Dutch hit man Ruud Boogers on a one year deal. The Highlanders' boss, who has been ordered to appear before Hampden beaks following his latest rant against Scottish whistlers, had been tracking the busty goal ace since the flying Dutchman issued a 'come and get me' plea just before the last transfer window slammed shut. The England legend has now signed Boogers from under the nose of his old mate and fellow Ibrox legend Coisty, whose derisory wage offer of 50p a week was described by Boogers' agent Dick van Dyke as 'woeful, but I suppose it's the best they can afford'." Now what this really means is that LAST NIGHT, Terry was actually at home in Abriachan enjoying a glass or red wine and reflectiing over his latest signing who had put pen to paper first thing that morning, as reported throughout the day by broadcasters and internet.

I back TB completely on his deadline

"supercaleygoballisticcelticareatrocious"

The "suggestion" in regard to Foran, Tokely et. co were MINE. If you are criticising me then I have raised doubts about Rosscoe, periodically over the last 3 seasons,but I have also praised him when he has regularly turned in performances to prove me wrong. I dont actually think now that he will manage a full season - but hey this is the fourth pre season that I have had that "fear". I have rarely criticised Foran apart from individual poor performances and his indiscipline. I have always praised him for his effort and committment. I still feel that he is more useful out wide on the left or in the attacking "hole" as he was often used in the SFL. I felt that some of his poorer performances were becos he was being played out of position and I did not agree with the favouritism shown to Foran and Tansey, a partnership which did not click. In essence the mere presence of experienced "professionals" like Esson, Tokely and Foran is essential when we are looking at blooding youngsters and untried at SPL players alongside them. I have always tended to laud Ross and again his main problem was that he was played all over the place, in and out of the team and never given a run in a favoured role. I have also been one of the main supporters of Sutherland and Morrison - who I also feel have been in the same position as Ross - and have been both used as bit players - especially Morrison. Why we needed to bring in the likes of Gnapke and others when we had those three - who could have been really tested and blooded - beats me. Finally Sutherland is a bit in the Rooney mould and that is what we should have been concentrating on. He aint exactly the daintiest or skillful of individuals but he knows where the goal is and isnt scared to have a go - not the kind of opportunities that he had wide on the wing or trying to play in intricate feckin patterns with the equal in Tade. In conclusion, as fer Proctor, I criricised him as a player but not as a person or for his committment. He always seemed to amke a mistake that got punished. But again his self confidence was shot by the inane persisitence of playing him as a feckin centre back. It appeared to me that his position was as a midfielder, especially a holding midfielder, and that he would always be a useful squad player if played in that type of substtute role. As I have alluded to before I appear to have been a season behind everybody else - i was looking for the experimentation and consolidation last season. There was an outside chance but the constant chopping and changing fecked that up and - in my personal opinion - has fecked off quite a few of the players who are now voting with their feet.

What I would wish to stress is that I would prefer to watch a team with a sprinkling of yoof in it, preferably local yoof, mixed in with the journeymen and the experience - that is why I would have felt that Esson, Foran AND Tokely were essentials to keep on board. We could have / should have blooded quite a few last season instead of all the dodgy loanees. In my book the likes of Morrison, Ross and Sutherland (centre feckin forward) should be "shoe-ins" for next season and with the three aforementioned, the ones on contracts or resigning we have the core squad and then we look at where the deficits are - centre half, holding midfielder and goalscorer and then utilise the journeyman and loanee market.

I really believe that being a successful club in reaching the SPL was a step too far. There is no way that our club will ever compete for the title in this league or attract the crowds that will sustain a decent wage for the players. We will forever be in the shadows of the bigger clubs who will offer our better players a better wage. Its a fact that we will have to live with. Alex is also correct in stating Ross County will also suffer sooner rather than later. We have found it difficult to attract players to Inverness so I feel County will find it harder as Dingwall doesn't really offer the same off the field entertainments as Inverness does. We'll see. We will continue to find it difficult to make ends meet and it will need a strong board to make sure that we do just that...survive.

Must admit Morgan Spice echos alot of my points but Butcher had no way of winning it. If he had signed most of these guys on long term deals and theyd been cack then we would be moaning about how they should have been given short term deals and built upon them if they impress and vice versa if they were quaility signings but only on 1 year deals. I am worried becuase up until this summer we always had the core of stalwarts to rely upon and build the team around each summer but we no longer have the support following the mass exodus of last year. There isnt really an answer to it. We can only keep what we can and hope that the new signings impress. May not fill folks with confidence but that is all that can be done.