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The pull of the EPL is hitting clubs in all countries, including England and Scotland. The closest league side to me is Plymouth Argyle and I have never once seen a kid in an Argyle shirt, its all Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal. In Scotland, traditionally it was Celtic and Rangers who would suck up all the support from the towns around the country but moving forward they will suffer from it aswell, their perceived 'big club' status doesnt hold up today with people of all ages having instant access not just to the games but to fans of other clubs via social media. Historically people would only ever interact with other football fans at work or in the pub, it made sense to support the Old Firm with their universal printed media coverage or your local side who you will have greater access to. 3 years ago when we last had an Old Firm derby, there were bugger all armchair fans out in the pubs for it, yet when Manchester United play Arsenal or any other SUPERSUNDAY event takes place, theyre packed out. The printed medium is dead to an entire generation, in favour of a globalised news network and communications, where finding something to talk about or somebody to wind up over a football game is just a button click away. You can watch any top level game at home for free and talk about it online, nowadays you can go to any pub and find folk to talk football with, in my eyes these people are supporting a TV program rather than a sport but it has proved to be the peoples choice. It wouldnt shock me to see more football shirts for EPL clubs sold in kids sizes around Scotland than all Scottish clubs, its the same globalisation people accept happily when they talk about their favourite music, tv or films. Nobody expects people to only listen to Scottish bands, irrespective of their quality but purely because they are Scottish, so why should we be expected to bother with Scottish football just because its local? This has been a running thing for me for 4 years now but the only hope for Scottish Football is Summer football pretty much immediatley, we need to be playing the 3 months a year without the English Premier League on TV and we have to start now before we turn into the Irish league. There is no way for us to compete with the billions in marketting the EPL as a brand offers, so we need to re-align ourselves to the best 2nd tier position possible, which to me is summer football.

Sekajja just put the u20s 1-0 up at Fir Park. Headed Goal according to the M'Well Twitter feed.

Sekajja agrees terms: http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/Sekajja-agrees-terms-with-Caley-Thistle-06102014.htm

Only just noticed this thread So sorry to hear this news. Eric's health had certainly been failing for some time but he was at the games whenever possible. Very fond memories, great guy with an amazing general knowledge. He will be sorely missed by many Thinking of you Part Timer Laura

A guy close to me was questioning why the pitch was being watered. He said they would be better painting arrows on the grass to show the team which way to kick the ball!

85mins: Incredible - Cummins could have won it. Fizzing free-kick from Thomas is flicked by the big defender. An inch wide of target. 1-1 86mins: Caley have a free-kick twenty-yards out. 'Well defend and hit on counter 3vs2. Mackin takes wrong option, shot defelcted wide. 86mins: Resulting corner lands at Neill on the edge, little rush of blood as he thrashes it over. Again, just the wrong choice from 'Well 89mins: Wow, another 'Well chance. Overplay it slightly though and only win a corner. Ball breaks to McCall but scuffed shot is blocked. 90mins: YET ANOTHER home chance. Leitch charges forward, squares it inside for Higgins, Cuts back onto left foot but shot straight at GK. 92mins: Wow, almost in again. Short back pass, MacKay cannons it off Baptie for a Motherwell corner. Incredible stuff here. 92mins: Corner is swung in, lands at Neill who can't get it under control but tees up McCall. His curler is held by MacKay. Astonishing. FT: Motherwell U20s 1 - 1 Inverness CT U20s. What a game. Standing ovation from the small group of fans inside Fir Park FT: JJ will be kicking himself given the amount of chances his side created, but Caley worked ever so hard for their point.

Yes - on Wales standby - hits include: 'Standby for your rights' 'No County no Crowd' 'Exodus (movement of the Celtic people) etc.

If someone told you Marley Watkins was a Rastafarian reggae guitarist, you'd believe it wouldn't you?

2mins: A corner from the left sails into the box and Ibra Sekajja raises unopposed to head home from close range. Poor defending from 'Well.

Away to Well tonight: Mackay, Maclennan, Howarth, Baptie, Brown, Horner, Polworth, Wilson, Ferguson, Sekajja, Sutherland Subs: Esson, Brown, Hull, Blackett, Rennie. Not sure on which brown is starting and which is on the bench

Apparently in Uganda they think Billy Mckay is a cool and exotic name.

Eric passed away peacefully today. He was an ardent supporter of ICT since the merger having no particular affiliation to either former team. Eric was a member of the steering group set up to help form the ICT Supporters Trust and was elected to the first Trust Board as Secretary, a role he carried out for many years. He was kind, generous and funny. Along with ICT Eric gave time to other organisations including the Rotary Club. Eric was a season ticket holder and attended all games at home and many away. He usually missed one when he and his pals spent a weekend away at the opening of the salmon fishing season. You could hear his shouts of encouragement to the team from the stand - never too critical - and using the name I'm sure he would have chosen for the team - Inverness! Even though his health was not great over the last few years he attended games when he was able and when he wasn't he listened to commentary on the radio. A wee win tomorrow would be lovely for you Eric! My thoughts with his wife Margaret and their family. And big hugs Part Timer. Sleep tight Eric.

Condolences to all of Eric's family and friends.

Whichever way you look at this, it is REALLY concerning and unsustainable. Many of us have been over this many times. We know it's not the quality of the football or league position (in our case) and it's not only us (I suspect every team excep newly propmoted ones and possibly Aberdeen are suffering. I don't think it's the absence of Hearts Rangers and Hibs either - if anything that makes the league more competitive and potentially exciting. I'm not sure we can even point the finger at cost because the promotions put forward by the club have made no impact. For me, the whole thing needs a shake down - bigger league, so you don't play everybody 3-6 times a season (with cups), no mid-week games and summer football to take away the competition of Premier League and Champions League football. Also the matchday experience has to be looked at and the stadium...but that all costs cash. Surely all the chairmen are suffering and should get together...

Looks like "the rumour" about C*unty fans boycotting the match rather than give ICT money was true. What a pathetic small minded group of people (and I cleaned that up) they are. I understand boycotts of the Old Firm because of vile fans and obstructed view reasons but boycotting local rivals so not to give them money is truly pathetic. Not even Dundee fans are this shallow. Hope they get relegated and boycott games at Elgin in the next couple of years.

It's not just the C*unty games that are too many it's the whole set up of the Scottish game and as I said on an earlier post the clubs and the SPFL have to make changes and increase division sizes. We played Divedee Utd 6 times last season and C*unty 6 times the season before. Wake up and smell the coffee. The fans are bored and no matter how well we or any other team are doing people have voted with their feet.

Very original and humourous banner from long suffering Newcastle fans at Swansea today!

Some teams park the Bus but County have to go one better !!

First half was our poorest home performance for years. Could've been 5-0 down against the worst team in the league. The tippy tappy stuff in our own half was getting punished again and again, and producing nothing at the other end. In the second half we reverted back to classic Terry Butcher era tactics. Much less intricate, much more direct. County found themselves penned back and clinging on. Some lovely stuff from Christie, Draper and Williams in the final third. Deano and Mark Brown the best 2 players on the pitch. Says it all really. Great game, disappointed not to convert our second half dominance into a win but a draw was probably a fair result.

CHARGE.

For some reason just can't get myself up for this game. I work with one or two C*unty fans and they are the same. I can't believe I'm hearing C*unty fans not going to the game because they don't want to give ICT money. That is not just sad but stupid.

Kevin MacDonald is often linked due to his Inverness connections.

The Warnock thing was a PR stunt ..... He needed/wanted people to know he was in the market for a job and we were looking for high calibre candidates for ICT .. it served both parties well but no way was Warnock ever coming now or later.

Chris Sutton...glad we avoided him in the end