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Finger on the pulse as ever.

'Bigots' is awfully strong isn't it?! I think you'll find that most Scottish people view the Scotland/England rivalry as a bit of sporting banter, there's no real hatred or bitterness towards the ordinary English person, rather annoyance towards the "England are great" and this "Big Daddy England are going to win it" attitude that seems to permeate the media at these times and delight in seeing their closest rivals smug dreams tarnished yet again. You might also find a large amount of Scots couldn't give two hoots whether England win or lose and others may be supporting another country due to links with them. Many Scots will have lived in Australia or America or on the continent for example. Why should they support England, just because they happen to from the country next door when they have a much stronger connection with another nation? What I do find irritating though is your constant "Big Daddy England" attitude, as if we little Scottish people are inferior to you. Claiming that Scottish people should support England, just because we live near-by, is arrogant and ignorant in the extreme.

So apart from tactics, winning and entertainment all Yogi really needs is TV blackouts, better weather, no injuries, no suspensions, road blocks at the Slochd, the return of Saturday afternoon football, standing areas, alcohol allowed in the stands, bars on any Old Firm followers, free buses from every town within 80 miles and free ferries and planes from the a The Islands. SIMPLES

I think you're all missing the real issue. As I've said before, we're in competition with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid etc and its a competition us and the rest of world football are losing heavily (Old Firm included). Busing schoolkids from Tain to watch football will not work, when they can easily sit on the toilet and watch Real Madrid on their phones for free. We've been living in a globalised world for years now and its really starting to take its toll. Part of the reason the Old Firm readily found new recruits all over the country was the blanket media coverage given to them by the Scottish Press, there was always something to talk about no matter how pointless the gossip. You're more likely to see kids/teenagers in Inverness and everywhere else wearing Chelsea or Liverpool tops than either of the Old Firms. As the influence of the printed press in Scotland decreases, the number of new fans who gravitate towards the sides most overly hyped in the media they do take in, is going through the roof. Once upon a time the fans of the Inverness clubs had a 'big' team which continued over the years until we were on a level playing field with them. Nothings really changed in that regards, as a huge number of our younger fans will call on the likes of Liverpool or Arsenal as their 'big' team. You cannot compete with the investment the TV firms globally have made into the top sides propoganda, so why bother. A switch to summer football for me is the only easy solution, 3 months with no EPL games on TV and the chance to catch potential new fans attention. You cant fault somebody in Inverness thinking 'f#ck this' when having to choose between sitting down the dump in the freezing cold for £20 on a Saturday afternoon or waiting until 5.15 for the evening EPL kick off while having a drink, with their feet up.

I think you would be very surprised how many fans we have in all of the locations you mentioned and beyond. We could have easily taken more buses from Dornoch/Tain and Moray area to the cup final. ICT have done a lot of good work, sorry thats a bit of an understatement. ICT have done a lot of terrific work looking after fans far and wide. Time and time again you hear of ICT lending a helping hand, children upset because their school garden gets vandalised at North Kessock, a boy getting his shirt replaced from up North, Eagle for Caleys brother getting shown around the staidum. Healthy eating in schools. I also believe more good news is on the way.

I do believe you are on about Ross County there