Leaderboard

Our excellent Chaiman, Kenny Cameron has been named chief executive of the year for the Scottish premiership. The award has been made by FCBusiness website and magazie. I don't know how infuentential this website is bt I do think the award is very well deserved - well done.

Dougal a lot of what you say is true but I am quite sure the Management of our Club is well aware of all that. Where does all the money come from that is going to improve all that ? It is easy to criticise but criticism should be backed by proposals on how to overcome these shortcomings. I would much prefer to see ICT survive as they are rather than go down the Sevco route. It would be nice if some generous millionaire were to pour money into our coffers without strings being attached, an easy quick fix to these problems could be started immediately and cosmetically we would soon become a glamour side. Rightly the first priority is to get the team established as a strong contender for European games season after season. That to me is the first priority that will eventually improve the fan base, our media image and consequently help swell the bank balance. I am one of your happy clappers and proud of it because I am proud to see the ICT progressing as well as they are. If you want to stare at things through your dark glasses that is your prerogative but do try the opticians,they might still have a pair of rose tinted ones you might just enjoy football even more.

I used to get a lot of heat on the forum for my belief that, unlike some people, Butcher wasn't the greatest human being to ever walk the face of the Earth. Over the last season and a half, Butcher and Malpas really had won me round, playing good football and attracting good players, and I particularly enjoyed the big shindig at the end of the away games. It all seems like a distant memory to me now. There's was always though something about Butcher as a man, that didn't sit quite right with me. I always thought there was a side to him where he could turn into a real menace, and I once witnessed at a reserve game Butcher (who happened to sitting next to Derek Adams at the time) balling at one fan like he was dirt. It was a horrible moment and I will not forget it. I have it on good authority as well, that like Alex Ferguson, there's a schizophrenic side to Butcher that can come out at any time. I've heard from quite a few sources, that if you're telling Butcher everything's great and he's fantastic, he's a lovely man, but make even a passing remark he takes umbrage to, he becomes an utter horror. Am I surprised that Butcher has gone? In many ways, yes I am. I thought he would least see out this season at least, but to go to a rival of ours, a club known as a managerial graveyard and going back on the promise he'd given the club and to essentially trash us in the process is a very bitter pill to swallow. To speak to Hibs, in some way, behind the backs of the club, the chairman and the fans is a horrible move and to then deny it to everyone is even worse. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, officially Butcher was still "making making up his mind" until Sunday, yet Malpas claims he'd already to already made up his mind to leave by "the middle of last week", despite saying prior to the Hibs game that "he didn't know what was going to happen". To me, that sounds like Malpas has let it slip that this has been on the cards secretly for some time in advance. Butcher and Malpas are nothing but liars. There's no doubt, that overall that Butcher and Malpas (and Marsella) did some great work for this club both on the field and off it, but their behaviour recently has been nothing short of a disgrace. Had they gone at the end of the season or to a large English club (such as Butcher's beloved Ipswich) then I think that even had they broken their word, the fans would be understanding and the wounds would quickly heal and we'd all wish them well, but for them to go in the manner they did was utterly vile. The good work they did has now soured and the name here has been tarnished beyond repair. I wish on Butcher and Malpas nothing but the worst, for the rest of their careers.

I have no difficulty with an ambitious manager viewing ICT as a stepping stone to something better just as long as they respect the club and the fans in doing so.

We're simply better off without him. He clearly has no respect for ICT or our fans and has a number of personality flaws (I think IHE might have a theory?) Can't wait to get a new manager and move to the next level.

That is your most sensible post EVER

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.

I've actually spent a large chunk of today researching the perceived "attitude problem" with Kenny Shiels and I think he has, quite literally, got a bit of bad press. Up until a couple of months before he parted company with Killie, all his interviews are what you want/expect from the manager of any club...standing up for his club, players, staff and the work he was doing with the team in general. A couple of dodgy referee decisions and the press got a couple of bites from him and they then continued to press his buttons...in fact, I'd go so far as to say they stitched him up. Granted, he should have had the where with all to see what was going on and take a step back from it, but nobody is perfect and whilst some of his comments might have upset the beaks and the blazers, it was all in defence of those I listed above (and himself). Aside from his comments about travelling so far north, he's never spoken poorly of Inverness and if you look back over his pre/post match interviews for games against us then he speaks fairly highly of the way we play and go about things as a club. The "Faith and Football" interview gives a decent insight into the real Kenny Shiels, as do the interviews and articles about the work he did in the community. It would appear that he spent a LOT of time out and about interacting with, helping and promoting football at all levels....look up references to Kenny Shiels and Youth Football Scotland to see for yourself. There's some talk about his "5 year plan" and I think Killie were only just starting to really benefit from that. Given his eagerness to build a team around young players...both home grown and by bringing some in...then I get the feeling his ideas are not a million miles from some of the stuff already in place/progressing at TCS. I've not pinned my colours to any specific replacement managerial mast, but Kenny Shiels ticks a lot of the boxes on my list of things we should be looking for. My only question mark is whether or not it's all KS or if the success is in the partnership with Jimmy Nicholl...if it is, then it would need to be a dual appointment.

you hold youself in high regard eh wee baws

After watching that Kenny Shiels is a manager that fans would probably warm to after a good run of form continuing. I wouldn't be totally disheartened if the club do indeed choose Kenny due to the amount of time and effort that he puts into his football club. Getting him out of the central belt and into the non pressured highlands might do him good and he might not need to out speak with the press the way he done with Killie. Just watched the same interview. Really compelling stuff. Im really starting to sway towards him now. Still want Paul Hartley though! Great win today for his 100th game in charge of Alloa and sit 4th in the Championship.

After watching that Kenny Shiels is a manager that fans would probably warm to after a good run of form continuing. I wouldn't be totally disheartened if the club do indeed choose Kenny due to the amount of time and effort that he puts into his football club. Getting him out of the central belt and into the non pressured highlands might do him good and he might not need to out speak with the press the way he done with Killie. Just watched the same interview. Really compelling stuff. Im really starting to sway towards him now.

Article in yesterday's Daily Record stating Butcher as a leader and how he reckons he will work Hibs Team harder than stars of Bayern,Barca,and Real .....Is he for real he looks like someone demented ..May be a better idea to settle in first then start to throw his weight about which he comes across at being very good at ....This is not sour grapes Im looking forward to hear who our new management team are but it's like they are rubbing salt in our wounds and mine haven't healed from last weekend. For him to say..... quote... " I was still the Inverness manager and Hibs had approached me and watching football matches is what I do if Im not in charge of a football team.".... .Bit of a contradiction there don't you think? Quote...I can't understand why people thought that was an insult or offensive- I was just doing my job .I was able to see both teams and it was weird more than anything else ".... NO he was doing his job if he was still Inverness Manager he should have been in our duggout. Hope he can walk the walk as well as talk the talk....

The Three Stooges, what else?

Think that is very harsh on Charlie Taylor! Didnt play many games but i was desperate for Butcher to re-sign him this season. The rest I agree with.

What people ?

No disrespect to izzy but can we forget those people and move on to a new chapter please.

To be fair Dougal he did indicate in his letter that the venue was biased towards Hearts. I also believe Davy's preference is for Pittodrie. Mine would be McDairmid but no matter where I cant make it anyway. Davie, can I suggest you put link on p&B and all the other forums out there> I'm sure many fans of other clubs sympathise with our situation and would support the petition.

Dougal, I agree with you that Hartley would view it as a stepping stone. I stumbled across a fascinating interview this morning on YouTube with Kenny Shiels. I'm completely and utterly sold on him (and Jimmy Nicholl) getting the job after watching it. I highly recommend giving it a view

You are wrong Dougal Davie

This guy =>

Couldn't care less now, tbh. I even hope county put them out of the cup and beat them on Boxing Day though.

Looking at it as objectively as I can, and with a few days of hindsight and not feeling as raw as it did (though it still hurts) I can't blame a manager wanting to go to a club with a large fanbase (4th biggest in Scotland), in a 20000 seater stadium with a top training complex. They'd also get a more flexible budget and a better salary themselves. It's inevitable they'd go. It's just a same it could not have been handled better. Had they already agreed to go, why not leave straight away as soon as terms were agreed instead of dragging it out over last weekend. And goading us fans in the process. Then rubbing it in, in his interviews. Show a little decorum. My one point about ambition is that technically he can't really achieve any more at Hibs than he could here. The best he can hope for in the next 2 seasons (this and next) is 2nd place. It'll be near impossible to do this year. He might win the Scottish cup, though it's unlikely. The league cup next season. That's all ifs and buts. Rest assured though that as soon as Rangers are back in the top flight they'll be finishing 2nd that season. They'll spend enough to ensure it. And they won't need to spend a lot (Their team is good enough to be competing this season, though their what I would call competitively unfit, meaning their not sharp to this level, though technically good enough). After which the best any team will be able to achieve is 3rd and a mediocre showing in Europe against an average side. It sounds pessimistic but for anyone to believe anything else is kidding themselves. So the way I see it. Money talks, Terry walks. And I buy into the consensus that the move was probably pre-orchestrated. But we'll move on, we'll survive. We'll hopefully keep improving and keep growing.

It's well respected as an award, and the recipient is equally well respected. Kenny is a fan of the club as well as Chairman and his commitment and passion for it are unbounded. Have one conversation with the man and you will realise this. Another great achievement for ICTFC.

I'm completely over this now, last season i hated the fact we played at Easter Road but it doesn't phase me now, i know we are the better team and will come out on top regardless. If we got Celtic, Rangers or even Partick in a cup final and it was played at Hampden would you be annoyed because its only a couple miles for each of those clubs?

As the shifty goings on of the last few weeks are coming to light it maybe helps explain why he wore that ridiculous dirty old man costume to Easter Rd

Renegade - says it as it is! However, after the initial pain followed by fury and betrayal, I'm now feeling really positive: Butcher did us well, but we now have an opportunity to find an even better man to take us to the promised land. Just glad I'm not making the choice!

"Am I surprised that Butcher has gone?" - NO

I am reliably informed that this could be a Maradonna / Juanjo combo.

I wouldn't take all that moaning about having to travel to the Highlands too seriously - it just looked like he was getting his excuses in early and trying to manage expectations in case Kilmarnock lost the games. Pretty amateurish psychology from Shiels, but I never took it as serious disrespect towards our club. I can see a few good reasons why the ICT board would be interested in him, actually - he was genuinely driven about promoting Kilmarnock to the local population, he was committed to bringing through young players, and he coped with working within a very tight budget. At the same time, he seemed to suffer from periodic tactical brainfarts, and his public persona was beyond parody at times. Not sure if the latter would appeal much to an apparently modest and unassuming guy like Kenny Cameron, but if the ICT board could live with it, then I certainly could. An interesting name that popped up on P&B was Billy McKinlay. No idea if it was purely speculation - youngish Scottish coach looking for first number one role and all that - but having been a coach with Fulham and Northern Ireland, he has more experience than the likes of Barry Ferguson or Henrik Larsson, might have some good contacts and, if his footballing philosophy is based at all on what he was like as a player, would hopefully get us playing good passing football.

I would suggest the Hilton in Dunkeld would be a reasonable place for both parties to meet. If you are made to go to Glasgow to state your case, then in principle you wont be listened to. Expect to be asked, in what way can you help assist fans with regards to getting to Easter road for an Early kick off on a Sunday, which is irrelevant as the location is bias

Brilliant letter from Davie. It is quite comical actually what the SPFL has done. Organise a semi final in the back yard of one team, supported by the First Minister, and set a time when the opposition basically cannot get its supporters to the match without breaking all rules about the sustainable use of transport. He has had no influence over this decision but we could have Alex Salmond sitting comfortably with his fellow Hearts supporters and the opposition snookered because the SPFL blatantly ignored his Government's national transport policy: Reduce emissions to tackle climate change Improve quality, accessibility and affordability of transport, to give people the choice of public transport and real alternatives to the car On the assumption that a few thousand of us set off on the morning of the game in a mass convoy of cars, we encounter snow or other road restrictions, what sort of message will the BBC send to the outside world? Picture Manchester United reaching a Semi Final against Chelsea and the English FA then choosing Manchester City's Etihad Stadium as the neutral venue with say an 11 am kick off because there was a Rugby match on the BBC at 13.00? Or maybe Carlisle reaching a Semi Final against Fulham and the game played at Chelsea's ground. The Hearts supporters this season have been absolutely fantastic. However, I am sure a few of them are thinking 'we might outnumber the ICT support by 16:1 with this decision. Thank goodness the SPFL chose a venue 3.6 miles away.' Now Alex, what do you think?

I wonder if the players had got wind of what was happening with the ex assistant. Then went out and put on a brilliant performance as a "gerrit upya" Of course maybe its no coincidence that the ex manager wasn't involved when that performance happened. Players had freedom to play without fear of a bawling at.

Malpas appeared to displayed no emotion of joy/pleasure after Billy MacKay scored that wonderful goal on Saturday judging by what we saw of him on TV. Maybe he had already taken a neutral or even worse stance by then.

What a lovely welcome these two will receive on their return on February 1st 2014.............oh wait a minute, are we not playing in a cup semi final that week-end............at Easter Road of all places...........love it, have a day off, there's a couple of good boys now............. It's absolutely galling that Malpas stated on Saturday in his interview that he had a decision to make about his Inverness future. Then on Tuesday evening he stated that it was an easy decision because he had already made up his mind mid last week to follow Butcher to Hibs as his number 2. Maurice is not even hiding the fact that he has lied to the club and the fans. His contempt for us is a disgrace. To think it ended like this. Feck em both.

Malpas in the press stating that he had already made up his mind to go to Hibs as number 2 mid last week.

Interesting to note that our dip in form (St.J and PT) or "blip" as MM put it came straight after our 3-0 home win over Hibs. Is this where the deal was struck? Did the players get a whiff?

Yeah , he blames his tools. . And, for the way this deceit has been handled, that's what T B, M and M are---TOOLS

Their first job will be to train everyone at Hibs how to make good use of the fantastic facilities at Easter Road because it certainly didn't look like they are well used by their display on Sat. I thought it was very disrespectful how he was rubbing in about how the marvellous set up they have compared to whats at Caley Thistle helped to persuade him to take the job . Well you know what they say about a poor workman......

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 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

There is important work to be done keeping our superb squad together. Hopefully there will be anti-poaching agreements in place, but I hope some of the compo goes to secure our players.

Job to finish? Loyalty? Reap what you sow...........