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Never mind as chair of Caley Jags Together, as a fan I am raging about this. If the SPL wanted to voice their contempt of us, they really couldn't have done it any better. CJT will fight this with every available weapon, and we will publish a detailed statement here later on tonight or early tomorrow. This is one we really need to fight as quickly and loudly as possible - it just isn't on.

"As a fan, I thought that was a shocking kick in the teeth for Inverness and its fan base. In football, the manager is important. In football, the players are very important. In football, the board are important. But the most important people of all are the fans who pay money to come through the gate. We employed that individual and to see him in the stand of a prospective employer, so far as we understood, on Saturday's dateline is frankly disgusting." Source

Achievements forgotten? No way. Fans quick to turn? Oh yes. The girlfriend analogy has already been used, but it's a good one. Almost 5 year with the girl of your dreams, you're happy and planning for your future, when she suddenly dumps you for someone else. At that stage you are entitled to view her a bit differently. Now, if she's running away with Brad Pitt, you've got to think wow, fair play. Perhaps we can still be friends? But when she's leaving you for one of the extras from Trainspotting and is obviously ruining her own life as well as yours.....

I can just about take a manager abandoning his team during the playing season if they go off to another league / higher level / or go to a team they already have an affiliation with. Paterson was with us for 7.5 years before he moved up a league, which I can understand. Robbo went to Hearts when they came calling and Brewster went to Dundee United. I can't blame Robbo and Brewster for wanting to go to teams that they had such strong bonds with already. When a manager leaves a team to join a team in the same league, that they have had no previous affiliation with and join them during the playing season, I find this disrespectful to the players and the supporters. However this happens with many managers of various clubs. Since Terry Butcher came into management 23 years ago, he has won one trophy. The Scottish First Division. I really believe he would have won another trophy this season with Inverness. Butcher did a great job with ICT. I will look back on his time with many fond memories, but ultimately he is yet another journey man football manager. Thanks for the memories but it will always be tainted by his appearance in the Hibs board room before the match on Saturday and his declaration to the journalists that he was there as a neutral. Highland heart my erse. Two years ago, Terry Butcher signed a new contract at our club when we were sitting bottom of the league and playing terrible football. Hibs will not be so loyal if he finds himself in a similar situation down in Leith.

With you on the 'in the works for many weeks' Pimple, no way did this happen suddenly. Fenlon resigned on the Friday and the BBC sport team were stating at 4.30 on the Saturday that Butcher was the man. We were kept dangling for 10 days knowing fine he was taking the **** but the nerve of the man to sit with the Hibs hierarchy while still on our payroll playing against us will never be forgiven by many, myself included.

Remember the end of season doo on the pitch when we won the 1st division? Butcher welcomed each of the players onto the park, highlighting the way each had contributed to the campaign - goals, etc. until it came to... "Here's Dan Stratford - he's a great guy"

Caley Jags Together tonight released the following statement regarding the League Cup semi final date and venue: "Caley Jags Together, the ICT Supporters Organisation are today writing to the SPFL to register the strongest possible protest against the time and venue for the Scottish League Cup Semi Final between Inverness Caley Thistle and Heart of Midlothian. The choice of venue and timing make it almost impossible for the majority of Highland based ICT fans to attend this game due to the lack of public transport and this will do nothing to enhance the image of the cup when swathes of empty seats are televised to the nation. The SPFL should re-examine this decision as quickly as possible in order to ensure that our fans can attend what is an extremely important match for them and the team. We hope that the SPFL see sense". A full letter will be sent to the SPFL tomorrow morning, and the full text will be available on the Caley Jags Together web site at www.ictst.co.uk. We also intend to conduct an on line petition against this dreadful decision, and further details will be posted here.

Acrimony like this is rarely because a person decides to move on or better him/herself. Everybody has the right to do that. In this case it's simply about the way it has been engineered by Mr. Butcher and Hibs and the way it has progressed--especially sitting in the stand as reported and in the Boardroom prior to the game if I read reports correctly? No one could have faulted him for being in the CaleyThistle dugout throughout the match since he was still the ICT's Manager. If the HIbs fans missed that little play then they had better remember it for the future because a leopard does not change it's spots To me that is unforgivable and showed both cowardice and disloyalty and contempt for the team that has brought HIM to prominence also. This is a two-way street and is not just about how great HE was--as someone said above, this was a team effort. And I remain unconvinced that this was not in the works for many weeks, not just in the flurry of the last few days. This is all too sudden and fast to be believable because the Board at Hibs must have been thinking about this change of Manager for a long time and surely could be expected to have made some moves to test the way the Managerial winds were blowing before Mr. Fenlon resigned or would have been fired. How? By making a few private telephone calls ........ And let us not forget that he had signed a contract and is very lucky that Mr Cameron allowed him to set it aside. Of by suing him for breach of contract if he resigned without a very good reason to support such an action. If he had sued Mr Butcher then I can't help but wonder how that would have affected the view of Butcher's character in football quarters going forward into the future. I sincerely hope that the compensation the club received is well over the 100,000 pounds suggested because this is just unethical nonsense.

Agree with bdu98196 in the success TB and MM brought to Caley but very disappointed on the way their departure has been dealt with especially Butchers alleged neutral appearance in Hibs main stand on Sat ....may have redeemed himself if he had made some kind of acknowledement to the Loyal ICT fans who have been there in good times and bad...At least Mo saw it out to the end . I wish the team and whoever takes over great success for future .

Really like Kenny Cameron as chairman and think we're very fortunate to have one of the best, if not the best, chairmen in the league.

Well, the 3 of them are off. I'm disappointed but not surprised that Butcher's gone. For me, this was inevitable following on from the Barnsley fiasco. What I felt was extraordinary at the time was how so many people then thought he had behaved honourably and hailed him as a hero when he pledged his aleigence to ICT. The basic behaviour was no different. He wanted away and the reason he didn't go was absolutely nothing to do with the pull of this club or the area. The reason he didn't take the money was because for whatever reason he couldn't take Malpas with him. He's failed on his own before and he knew he would fail on his own again. There was nothing honourable about the way he behaved then . The difference now is that he has been able to take Malpas with him. What he really thinks about ICT was clearly demonstrated by his turning up at Easter Road, whilst still ICT's manager, and watching the match from the main stand. It was just the sheer indifference of the man towards the club that has given him the opportunity of success these last few years that struck me. We're nothing as far as he is concerned. For me the intriguing aspect of all of this is the timing. When he got the approach from Barnsley we were really flying - much as we are now. He chose the point when we were on a high to make his move almost as though he had no confidence that we would see it through to success and that therefore he would be seen as a failure. It was as though he needed to catch the eye of potential suitors when it looked as though he was a successful manager despite the fact that he'd never won anything in his life except the promotion with us. And for no hope Barnsley! He was never going to win anything there but perhaps avoiding relegation could be construed as success. We took a significant drop of form after the Barnsley fiasco. It was as though once all the euphoria of his return had died down the reality that he had wanted away hit the players. We rallied at the end but it is my belief that we would have won a European place and probably got to the league cup final at least had he had a little more faith in his players and not gone down to "listen to what Barnsley had to say". And now he's off to Hibs just as we are looking good to improve on last year. Again he seems to lack the belief in his players to actually win something. He seems to want to be managing a team where success is measured in simply doing better than you were doing before and not in actually winning something. It's all show, all illusion. He doesn't believe he will ever be genuinely successful so surrounds himself with the illusion of success and then wants out before the illusion disappears. He doesn't give a toss about this club. It's only number 1 that matters. My theory - and this may come as a totally new thought to some - is that he's simply a narcisist!

I was taken aback by Maurice Malpas's interview on Sportsound to the effect that he could not consider staying at ICT because we could not offer him what he needed in terms of crowds and training facilities. The attendances and facilities are no different to those he was delighted to grab with both hands almost 5 years ago when he was unemployed and virtually unemployable within the game. I am afraid that his words today have tarnished my view of him as much as Butcher's actions on Saturday did for his boss. Steve Marsella may be going too but at least he has to be given credit for keeping a dignified silence.

Dont think we have a Director of Football Was he not quoted as saying to one of the papers that he'd be here till the end of season. Its easy to feel bitter by whats gone on over the last few days but I think we should give credit where its due. We always knew Butcher would be taken away from us. Indeed many on here linked him to every vacancy that arose over the last couple of years. He has, however, left a legacy. He has shown that, even with small budgets, a team of our status can reach the dizzy hieghts of Scottish Football. We can all believe that anythings possible. We fear no team. We know we can beat any team. We know we can achieve all we want to achieve. The secret now is to continue to achieve. Butcher gave ICT the team. Butcher gave the fans the belief. Lets all get together and show the world that ICT can continue to be a force without Butcher.

Best: Signing for ICT Worst: Signing for Hibs

I'm sad to see so many folk saying they are not going to go anymore! How does that help our players? None of this is their fault. Personally will be there even if played at midnight.

Butcher has behaved like a complete tw@ , bad enough leaving us and taking everyone with him,, but what he did on Saturday is completely out of order. We were still paying his wages at that point. Serious lack of class on his part

Please don't do that! Our players deserve our support so much. Can't let the folks at the BBC or SPFL win!

Utterly disgraceful if true (I haven't heard the interview). A further point I would add though is not only were they happy to seize the opportunity five years ago they were also happy to sign new deals offered to them when the team was bottom of the SPL without a win. The board and fans stood by them and now they turn round and berate our club and facilities? Disgusting.

Wow, some really negative posts on here and such hostility towards TB & MM now - how quick people are to turn. So we had a management duo that got us promoted from D1 first time of asking, rejuvenated the team by making unpopular choices and removing players who were proven to be past their best, brought a exciting and attacking style of play, gave us our first ever top 6 SPL finish and missed out on Europe by a whisker, taken the team to 2 cup semi-finals in a row.................yet all that if forgotten because like everyone in life they decided to try a new challenge with the inevitable additional cash. While I'm not happy they have left, I certainly am grateful for what they have brought to the club and hope moving forwards a new manager can build on this.

Arsecissy is it ??

Perhaps it is our Spartan conditions that have bonded our squad of players together........................ The fact that they are learning to run and pass the ball accurately on none to even and undulating surfaces................................................ The fact that they are prepared to rough it while other mamby pamby rich (albeit mortgaged to the hilt) teams ponce around in conditions that pamper their egos. .............................The fact that they appreciate the noise and encouragement given them by the loyal support that follow them around even if it is not the biggest crowd in the Country The fact that they are playing for a club that is prudent with it's cash but generous with its appreciation. Your 'BIG' teams might get the press glory, the bonuses and media praise but our lads are the grafters that find the winning ways.

Terry and Mon did well for us nd I had respect for both did not aprecieate the way it ended "as a netureal" in his last game as ICT manager saw tv interviews tonight and at least Terry was not disrespectful to ITC in his comments as for our x chairman say it as it was spot on

I was just sitting open mouthed absolutely outraged at what Maurice had to say in that interview. Clearly Hibs have impressive facilities but you don't go bad mouthing the club which threw you a huge lifeline and brought you back from the abyss. Claiming that we couldn't offer him what he wanted and complaining about our crowds has really, really wound me up. I look forward to laughing as I sit part of our small crowd in our small stadium as our players who have trained at our poor training facilities pump their new team 3-0.

On the last point there's still time yet , unfortunately, for him to get his say as well!

I would guess that he will trot out the old mantra tomorrow that Hibs are a big club with a big support BINGO! and the potential is there to take them from being a sleeping giant to somewhere far further than he could ever take ICT (due to lack of money/fans/infrastructure etc) BINGO! ..... love Inverness, love ICT, love the Highlands BINGO! but it was a challenge he just could not turn down !!! all that bullshit ..... FULL HOUSE!!!!

Jimmy nichool said to his players on satarday go out and play as if it was an x factor addition Its like terry has left nicole sherzinger for sharon osborne because sharon has a bigger house

Good luck Davie! It is a total disgrace once again, and as you say, it's prongs up to ICT from the SPFL. Let's win the damn thing and really give them what they don't want!

Fine, I'l be the first to say it, thats brill news.

Holly Willoughby please Edit: With me as assistant.

probably is No thanks. Claimed league one down there was better than spl standard. Probably is

I wonder how many of our squad feel exactly the same way about Butcher and how he left as our ex chairman does.

David - Remember that double voddie and coke that you still owe me - forget it

Might be wise to get a bob or two on Kevin MacDonald. Have an inkling the odds may shorten before long.

We'll probably take 1,000 odd fans to this and get slated by the media. Hopefully it's us v St Johnstone in the final in front of 6,000 fans. **** the SPFL and their sponsors.

Butcher is a guest on tonight's Sportsound with Kenny Macintyre. Get the tough questions tweeted/emailed/texted in!

Rather strange. I'd be inclined to bet a lot of money that it won't be Foran.

@alucard Butcher has nothing to do with the crowds here at ict winning form or not and he should of felt rewarded with cash points and our appreciation not matter how many of us there are!

Ominous.

Red Card and myself chatted to the Luton manager a couple of weeks back after their game against Gateshead. He told us the deal is all but done. Obviously I told him i'm happy but I was intrigued as to why Luton were letting him go. He told us he rates Brill but has 2 other excellent goalkeepers. He was always going to struggle to be number 1. I am delighted that Dean has signed and it's great timing from the club.

Why's this game a 1pm k.o. . I enjoy getting along to the U20s but can't make the afternoon kick offs.

Seeing as Levein has 20 votes and Paul Hartley second highest with 12. What about a LeveinHartley team up, that would be quite good!

At least we'd have more up front than we ever would with levein in charge. I'll get my coat!

Impressed with Kenny Camerons statement he sounds like a fan first, chairman second. Perhaps butcher wanted a new challenge and to be fair his stock will never be this high again. although why he didn't hang on for a big money move down south I don't know. Quite glad Malpas didn't stay as Manager because I don't think he enjoys the limelight and it would be terrible to watch him crumble like he did at well. Does anyone know if Marsella has stayed.

I suppose, like everyone else I'm just glad this is over. The longer it dragged on, the more Terry and Maurice's achievements would have been soured by the nature of their departure and they achieved too much at this club for that to happen. I'm glad the club offered Mo the chance to take over the reins and minimise the fallout from Terry's departure and I know how desperately disappointed Kenny Cameron will be right now, but he and his board have conducted business the way that Caley Thistle always do - the right way and they are to be congratulated on that. Like every Caley Thistle fan, I am now anxious about what comes next but I'm heartened by the statement tonight but I'm at least thankful for this international break as we draw breath. As Kenny says, we have a fantastic pedigree of appointing bosses and I look forward to seeing who emerges as candidates. In amongst all of this, don't forget the team who have got us this far in our best seaon to date and please get along to the Saints game in numbers to give them your loud, clear and unconditional support. They deserve it. Davie Balfour

Contracts mean nothing in football ... as we have found out 4 times now. I applaud him for what he did at ICT, he has my respect and thanks for that, but ICT will move onwards and upwards and he is now consigned to history ..... ICT - #BIGGERTHANBUTCHER

His choice of attire for Easter Rd later became clear.