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I don't think we have had any other player who is so neat and tidy in possession. He rarely seems to give the ball away and that was a real asset to a team playing our kind of possession football. Our loss is Dundee's gain, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they are up challenging for Europe next season with all the signings they've made.

Yeah.....It only came to my attention due to David Mitchell's YouTube soapbox rant on the subject of that particular phrase and now it's stuck. I'm not much of a grammar Nazi normally. I understand that language is constantly adapting and evolving. It's just it doesn't make sense for the context in which it is used.

Well yes that's my point, and initially I was trying to do it brashly, mainly to get over the fact that it's time to move on when they've been given so much now. This is both to the "refuseniks" and the ones who cause division within the club itself. Usually through moaning about the shirts and colour allocation. It's often hard to be humble when people throw in sly snobbish insults. To call me arrogant is slightly hypocritical given the nature of it. It's very much the case of "we know better lad" even if it's an opinion. I have retracted statements already, but mainly as the original comment was quite ham fisted on my part. I have hesitated to post this until I was finally convinced that we are dealing here with the intractably stubborn and the voluntarily ineducable. I don't, for instance, suppose you know that Andy Penman, ex Rangers and Dundee, also spent time playing for Caledonian and that Billy Urquhart, after he left Caledonian for Rangers and Wigan also came back to play there? I also don't suppose you know that Caledonian were good enough to produce and sell on players such as Kevin MacDonald who did the English League and Cup double with Liverpool in 1985? And I also suppose you are unaware that in the early 1990s, Thistle were ambitious enough to engage that Dunfermline legend Jim Leishman as their manager. And there's a lot more..... That's the insulting language I mention. As I've said just above I've made retractions, but the sentiment remains. HL is a low level regional league (an amendment I previously made) however you want to try and spin it. That's not me saying that no one should follow it and love it and have every right to do so. Just it is what it is. Never heard of Penman admittedly but I know the rest. I also know Charlie Christie went to Celtic from Caley. It's not unheard of from players to leap from low level to high. What's the point? Some good players have been produced. Aye ok. I never said anything to the contrary. SPFL players are not all full time. Maybe you mean the Premiership but as far as I know, part time clubs can reach the Premiership. The bottom two divisions are part time and I know that some of them are paying only about £60 p/w. I know this because I am involved with a Lowland League club and many players switch back and forward between the LL and League 2. I corrected that later by referring to the Scottish Premiership. Can't be all that stubborn. I'm quite certain a rule was in place that required all top flight clubs to be full time. I could be wrong. I do remember Livingston having a player on their books as an amateur (paying only expenses) Hassan Kachoul, and there was a bit of a complaint from relegated Dundee at the time. If I remember correctly the rules were changed to stop this happening again. You say that remuneration does not correlate with ability but in football, which is largely the free market, it mainly does. Maybe Rangers are Captain's "wee club". Surely my arguing that high pay doesn't define status would mean precisely the opposite in such case? Or is the joke just rubbish? Perhaps you would like Queens Park to resign from the SPFL forthwith, given that they are (literally) a bunch of amateurs? How can they possibly compete in a professional league? If you are trying to equate amateur with poorly run, then I think you have got your head up your backside. One of the biggest professional clubs in Scotland has been one of the worst run from a footballing point view for a number of years. I'll give you this - you've managed to unite Caley and Thistle fans a lot more quickly than the merger did! Good to see I've achieved something at least!!! Well it's not like Queens Park are there on merit is it? I congratulate their integrity by steadfastly refusing to ever become pro but had they had the chance to be relegated they'd be a low league team themselves. Fortunately for them both sentiment and the locked door members club nature of the national leagues has prevented this. But hey I didn't come up with the name Scottish Pro Football League. I don't think at any point I mentioned amateur in relation to how the clubs are run. I even went to the bother of explaining what I meant by amateur and that I was referring to the footballing standard. Just as I was when I used the, ill chosen, phrase "pub football." Of course I don't expect anyone to acknowledge that I've even conceded that. In fairness it's not something that surprises me. I've seen others complain, mainly relative newcomers to the site, that they feel they are being rounded on by regulars. Now of course I probably agreed with the reasoning for putting them in their place, but there was little tact involved. Though seeing it from the other side you get a sense of the unforgiving bullying nature that exists. It doesn't particularly bother me. I've accepted that some of my points were both misleading, rash and at times wholly inaccurate. I still stand by the crux of my argument even if I accept that it could have been worded differently (Though it was written as it was more out of frustration at certain groups and I was looking for a reaction of sorts.). I still regard HL football as low level regional football. Caley and Thistle played there. Whilst having a successful history at that level, to ever progress further the merger was the most realistic option available to gain entrance to the national leagues. This happened. The legacy of the two former clubs remains. They combined into a new club and have achieved success beyond the wildest dreams of any ICT fan. Particularly those who remember in detail the painstaking process of the merger. (I was 8, and supported Scotland and players I thought were good. So no I don't really remember it.) My simple message from the off, and something I've repeated several times now, being why are some people so adamantly bitter still about the merger when the evidence presented shows, surely, that it was all worth it? Be proud of the history and legacy that was left behind. YES. But be proud that the brave decision was made (with absolutely no guarantee of success) to try for something bigger and better. ICT have put Inverness firmly on the map*. *Note, this is a metaphor. ICT did not literally put Inverness on the map. In fact historians would point out that Inverness was there a while before and would have been places on maps by illustrators.

Well they finished 6th last term so it's not beyond the realms of possibility to repeat that feat.... Unfortunately for him, despite remarks from Yogi himself about being one of the clubs most technically gifted players, he'd dropped out of the first 11 reckoning and was often reduced to coming on to close games out. If he feels that moving to Dundee to get more game time will further his career and get him out of his comfort zone (Didn't realise our bench was that nice) then best wishes to him and may he have a long and successful career, and may I say that I'd happily welcome him back in an ICT shirt in the future. Good luck Nick!

Really sorry that he has had to go to get a regular first team berth. I wish him all the best with his new club. He will always, for me, command a place in ICT folklore history for his dramatic equaliser against Hearts in the league cup semi last year.

I can see why Nick needs a fresh start and like Graeme we wish him well. The goal he scored against Hearts when we were down to 9 men will always be one of our great memories.

I think Nick will do very well and probably demonstrate that we ought to have yielded to his ambition for more first team starts.

indeed, simile, metaphor etc should not always be taken literally, but if you use words that can have both a literal and figurative meaning within the same context, then you are going to cause confusion. Perhaps you would like Queens Park to resign from the SPFL forthwith, given that they are (literally) a bunch of amateurs? How can they possibly compete in a professional league? If you are trying to equate amateur with poorly run, then I think you have got your head up your backside. One of the biggest professional clubs in Scotland has been one of the worst run from a footballing point view for a number of years. I'll give you this - you've managed to unite Caley and Thistle fans a lot more quickly than the merger did!

Where does everyone expect we're going to find a player within our budget, comfortable on the ball with either foot, can play anywhere across the midfield, SPFL experience in a top 6 side and only 23 years old? Anyone that is brushing this aside as "no great loss" is underplaying how good a player Ross is... he might not have secured a regular first team place but whenever he was called on he was excellent. If the board had invested in him with a major contract and shown commitment then there's every chance he could have taken the club on over the next few years. Now if ever is the time to invest ... not lose players to our rivals ffs!! We could deal with losing a player like Ross on his own but after losing Shinnie, Watkins, Mckay and Ofere the team will take some patching up. We'll obviously bounce back ...always do but with our first venture into European competition we should be at our strongest not limping into our first game.

I would have liked him to stay although I don't think he would ever have been more that a decent squad player as long as we retain top six status. I understand the desire to develop a career elsewhere but my fear for Nick at Dundee is that he will also be just a squad player there as well. He's a tidy player but rarely offers much drive going forward. He plays the safe ball rather than the risky ball that penetrates. He also seems to lose his composure in front of goal and should have scored more than he has. ICT have had a knack for getting the best out of players but somehow Nick's potential has never been properly realised here. Maybe things will click for him in Dundee - but maybe not. I am sure we will all watch his career with interest.

Two of us booked our own way there (via London) and would definitely be interested in meeting up to head to game, both for beers and transport! Get there late on the Wednesday and leave 1210 Friday.

Not going all the way to Romania to drink in an Irish bar! Plenty Romanian bars to try.

Decent shout. However given there lack of information re the plane which may now have no fans as they have all made alternative arrangements, it might not be the best after all. Draw was Monday. Today is Wednesday. Do you really think thats long enough to deal and confirm a charter let alone publicise it? Yes. The Gellions have the price for their charter, hotel and transfers publicised. do you know roughly what The Gelions are offering? They couldn't get charter from Inverness, that or it was too pricy. So their offering coach to Glasgow on the wed. Direct flight to Bucharest. Hotel wed night. Coach to game and back Thurs. Hotel Thurs night. Flight back Fri am. £530 I had been holding out for gellions plane but quite pricy.

He's a good footballer for sure, but for an attacking midfielder he contributed very few goals and assists so he was never quite the finished article, despite some good spells. We've been waiting for him to 'bulk up' for about 4 years. Perhaps he wasn't pushing hard enough in the gym, perhaps he's just a hard gainer. I always rated him as a decent, honest player with good vision for a pass, but who never quite fulfilled his potential for whatever reason. When he first broke into the team under Butcher as a winger he looked fantastic. The archetypal 'nippy' youngster who took men on and dribbled past them. Laterally I can't even remember the last time he dribbled round an opponent. Maybe it's been coached out of him, maybe just a lack of confidence. A change of scene and a bit of new stimulation might be what he needs. Dundee is a good move for him IMO, Hartley teams play the same way as us so it should be an easy transition.

Decent shout. However given there lack of information re the plane which may now have no fans as they have all made alternative arrangements, it might not be the best after all. Draw was Monday. Today is Wednesday. Do you really think thats long enough to deal and confirm a charter let alone publicise it? Yes. The Gellions have the price for their charter, hotel and transfers publicised.

Having got to know "Nick the Person" as well as "Nick the Footballer" I've got mixed emotions. Selfishly, would have loved to see him stay as I think we've still to witness the best of him and this could easily have been a big season for him and the club would obviously have got the benefit of that. Unselfishly, I think this will be good for Nick...in the same way that I think it's good for any young person to get away from home (even if just for a bit) and break out of their comfort zone. There's not many players out there who can say they've been at a club for 14 years....especially ones that are only 23 years old.

Great signing for the Dees. Hartley is making some shrewd signings. I fully expect them to finish in the top six next season.

not sure whether to be disappointed with the club or the player on this one as we dont know the ins and outs of the contract offer or other discussions. it is clear Nick could possibly have established himself this year, and played in Europe but has opted to sign for a rival that - with all due respect - has finished well below us for a number of years (although they do seem to be building a good team under the current manager). I wish him well in his future games except when he plays against us.

I think Dundee have got themselves an excellent bit of business with Nick Ross, few players can pick a pass and are as neat on the ball as him so i feel he will be a real asset for them. Sad to lose a local player but wish him well in the new challenge. As others have said, I hope that phone is currently glued to Yogi's ear..we need some signings.

After losing Marley and eddie i am fairly certain the club would have offered him a good deal. Imo i feel Nick has been foolish. Yes he hasnt been starting much these past two seasons, but we have lost some of those players who pushed him out and were looking to him to fill that void. This was his real chance to shine now with us, but he has naffed off to a mediocre club where he will have to start from the beginning and prove himself against a bigger squad. oh well, que sera sera and all that but i hope Yogi is working overtime bcz starting to fear we wont be ready for Astra

Wow - they all look ecstatic!

With Watkins away and Ofere too, I thought we'd have pulled out the stops to secure Nick. Starting to worry about our squad now with Eurpoa games only 3 wks away - we look very weak.

The club may be able to help fans if they know how many will need a bus. They will be using a company out there I'd imagine

Alright folks, been following this thread for a couple of days. Myself and a mate just booked up Tuesday-Friday. I used to stay in Bucharest. People want to be looking for accommodation close to Placa Uniri or Lipscani. That's the old town. Loads and loads of bars / restaurants in that area. You'll be surprised how plush it is. Nothing else of that class for miles around. Stick to those places and you'll be fine. I booked an apartment on AirBnB. For those who haven't tried it, it's great but it'll be best for groups of 2-6 max.

Clubs employ accountants to minimise the amount of tax they have to pay, and private limited companies tend to produce accounts containing the least information legally required. To give more than that would be commercially naive. ....except Rangers, who are allowed to ride rough-shod over all regulations because "we need them back in the top flight".

The Caley boys are leaving from Glasgow via Amsterdam on the Tuesday and returning on Friday. Nice apartment booked in Bucharest

It's the Americans' use of the word "bathroom" that gets me. They seem to feel it is OK to bomb any oil rich or strategically important poor country whose Government they don't like, but to use the word "toilet" is seen as a bit indelicate. Or is it that at home they don't have toilets and actually use the bath? At least that way (unlike with some of their bombing) they shouldn't miss.

3 of us also booked from Aberdeen-Bucharest via Amsterdam, leaving Tues, returning Friday. Would also be interested in minibus to match.

Flights booked for me and the wife - Edinburgh to Stansted on Wed night, Stansted to Bucharest early Thursday morning. I'm happy to organise minibus/driver from Bucharest to Giurgiu if anyone wants to get on board with that. Looks like it would be less than £20pp return.

http://www.gsp.ro/international/europa-league/marius-niculae-a-anuntat-care-ar-fi-cea-mai-mare-problema-a-astrei-in-duelul-cu-inverness-va-fi-un-impediment-452416.html Monday, June 22 Astra Giurgiu will play in the 2nd round of the Europa League with Scottish band Inverness Caledonian team that played and Marius Niculae . The striker has offered few details about Scottish band and gives them the first chance Giurgiu in dispute with the Scots. "I think that Astra will have the first chance. Romanians have a better team than Inverness. The value of our championship is over what is in Scotland. The wind will be an impediment for Astra, but I hope that does not happen," said Marius Niculae the DolceSport. 8 goals scored Marius Niculae in the 35 matches played for Inverness

Oh My! There are a few phrases in general use in Canada that I had to also scratch my head about when I came over just like the above one. "I could care less" is one I particularly found challenging I must admit. But of course when I put on my Brit hat after returning to Blighty, I change back to British talk as best I can ---bearing in mind that 40 years abroad sailing before the Red Flagged mast does change a fella. Canajins don't like us, that much to be honest. We are better educated and have a long background in history etc .A Manager of the Bank I joined over here once made it perfectly clear to me that my presence, as it represented competition and snotty -nosed advice ( in his view at least ) was "you lot come over here and tell us what to do" which was the shock of the century. No friendly handshake, no chit chat no welcome with a smile. .. So, the bottom line is :- you either make the effort to adapt and fit in without asking too many uppity questions or go back to where you came from. Going to the colonies is about survival and major effort and there are few hand-outs. Being a very hard worker,. with at least a modicum of brains and initiative does help but finding people who like you for yourself etc is alsoi very important. Go find your birds of a feather and flock together is a good survival strategy. Problem is you can't put an old head on young shoulders so gradually you adopt what you have o0therwise unless yo7u are "in" with a coerie of imntelligensia then you will be the one to stand out as either the renegade or the odd pone

If the point you are trying but struggling, through ignorance and arrogance, to make is that ICT are playing at much higher level and with a much higher profile that either Thistle or Caley were or could reasonably aspire to then few will disagree with you. A little more humility and a lot less high handed arrogance when helpfully corrected by those that clearly know their subject more than you do would not go amiss.

That's that sort of 'flippant' remark that does nobody any favours, and could be inflammatory! ICT are not a continuation of Caledonian (Caley)! Inverness then, is unrecognisable to what it's like now - from a town of 30k to now 80k in such a small time-scale is incredible. Back in the 80s/early 90s, Inverness Thistle or Caley 'going to the wall' would have been a blow to the town. Not financially, but they were simply part of the fabric. For both to 'fold' at-the-same-time was unthinkable...it was a risk, and the 'timing' had to be right. The vacancy, after 20 years, with no further opportunity in sight, had to be taken. The 'risk' involved in dissolving two 'great' (locally) clubs was certainly right. The opportunity was there to apply (and be accepted) to the Scottish League - despite interest from Gala (as usual) and others, it was virtually a fait accompli. Yes, the town lost two major institutions in its proud history - but a new one has been formed, perhaps mirroring the growth in the now City of Inverness. To suggest Caley still exist is absurd and frankly, legally inaccurate. Yes, 'Caley' is often used as the name for ICT, but that of course, is just a nickname, based on the shortening of the word Caledonian in our name. Any inference to the former 'Caledonian FC (Caley)' is unfortunately mistaken! Interested to see how many ex-Caledonian fans would be in favour of the club re-naming as simply Inverness FC?

Not sure how old you are captain but the "heydays" for the Highland League teams were in the 60's and 70's when the football played by the top say 5-6 teams was of a very good standard and crowds were probably averaging the same as ICT today albeit much bigger crowds when the big guns played each other. The standard IMHO started to go downhill in the 80's as did the attendances. But as you say in the last three sentences they are the feckers who are losing out on years of feckin adrenaline and sheer feckin ecstasy

Smee is correct. The original Caley and Thistle supporters were indeed passionate about the teams we followed, and rightly so. Also, it is not strictly correct that Highland League football was amateur. I know for a fact that some of the Caley players, even from the early 50s, when I started watching them, were well rewarded as part time professionals. I don't know how many 'glory hunters' are now supporting ICT, but for me, the more the merrier. We need all of them, and I hope our current success will breed a new generation of young fans who will grow to love ICT in the same way as we old Caley and Thistle fans loved their clubs. Some one on here posted that he thought many of the 'reuseniks' simply reverted to supporting their 'big teams' when ICT came into being. I feel sure that this is correct. In my own case, however, I never had a 'big team'. Not in Inverness when I was growing up, nor in Glasgow when I was a student, although I did watch Partick from time to time, as they were close to my student digs. Then when I moved to London in the 60s, I didn't watch football at all. Even when I moved to Berkshire in the 70s, although I like to see my local teams, Reading and Wycombe, do well, I don't class myself as a supporter, although I'll go and watch them from time to time. The only English team I like, which no one could call a 'big team', is Exeter city and that is partly because a friend of mine has been Director of Football there for many years. So it has only been Caley and ICT for me. One of my big regrets is that I have failed to persuade any of my grandchildren to show any interest in ICT. They don't even follow their local team, Reading, being too easily caught up in the hype that is Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc. But these premier league giants will never give them the same enjoyment as I had from supporting Caley and ICT.

I'm always amused by the way the M-word in a post inspires the Red Mist in one or two posters!! To answer the OP's question, I was against the merger and I was in seventh heaven when ICT won the cup. Being against the merger didn't stop me supporting the merged team - to me they were just Caley with a bit of baggage added on! Others I know who were against the merger feel the same, while others just don't care. There are a few I know who detest the merged team and will have nothing to do with them at all, yet they were passionate Caley supporters back in the day. It's hard to believe that they wouldn't be even a wee bit moved by the Cup win, but there you go. Hope this answers your question!

Central Belters = Barstewards as usual . Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. I suppose you'll be condemning the HL for keeping out Cove, Fort and Wick The Highland League began in 1893 with six Inverness clubs and Forres Mechanics (plus the "Ross County" side which resigned during the first season). It has subsequently expanded steadily over the decades with in more recent years Fort then Cove (1985 and 1986) boosting numbers from 16 to 18 and Wick (who got the verdict over geographically more accessible Inverurie) taking it to 16 in 1994 after Jags, Caley and County moved on. Inverurie and Strathspey have subsequently made it 18 again and I wouldn't rule out 2 divisions of 10 in the future. Central belters? In general, throughout history they've been far more of a pain in the @‌rse for Highlanders than the English ever were and in particular there was for decades a definite Central Belt effort to keep HL clubs out of the SFL. Hence, for instance, an Edinburgh works team got in ahead of Thistle in the 70s and there was that famous statement from Mr Clydebank Jack Steedman that Highland terams would get in over his dead body which kind of summed up the attitude of the CB. They still whinge about having to come up here and many would have loved to see County go down.

Perhaps I was too rash with my point but I'm still sticking to my guns in regards to the sentiment. HL is and was amateur football. You don't need to have lived 150 years to know that. To suggest pub football is admittedly going overboard. Though essentially it's a high level of postmen and sparkys playing football at weekends and training a few nights a week. Its part time. And saying that Inverness Thistle were rejected previously on their own (whether than be the "central belt bias" conspiracy or just a really close vote lost out on) proves that it would have been exceptionally difficult for either team to, first of all get in league football, but to actually progress to any greater level than then division 3. Yes OK the founding fathers didn't just "come along" . They worked long and hard to bring the merger about and should be admittedly recognised for such. But let's not be pedantic about it. I wasn't meaning any disrespect. You're just getting a little flustered. I never said there was no football in Inverness prior to the merger. I said there were 2 small non league (diddy) teams who occasionally had cup flourishes. And yes quite rightfully people should be proud of their team. Just as people are proud to be Scottish... Though it doesn't actually matter in the grand scheme of things does it? I just think anyone still bitter, 21 years on, about 2 small teams festering around in non league daring to be ambitious enough to believe that working together could actually bring about much greater success... Well I think they're just daft. Dinosaurs. I'd imagine anyone on this site whilst still rightfully proud of the origins of the club we have today, have got over this by now, both for the love of the local team and in recognition of where its taken them.

Jimmy Calder all day long. And I'd probably put Ryan Esson second. He won the 1st division with us in style and let's not forget a certain cup too! I'd say Jimmy is my favourite ICT player of all time. (love a bit of nostalgia!)

Just got to scratch this itch - the top-flight in Scottish football is NOT called the SPFL! But, anyway, It’s insulting to suggest football in Inverness started when Thistle and Caledonian merged to form ICT. Furthermore, It’s ignorant and misguided to suggest “some ambitious figures came along” - as if Inverness had previously had no inclination to join the then closed-shop of the national leagues. Thistle were unsuccessful in their bid to join in 1973/74 when a vacancy became available. Purely out of self-interest, the 37 member clubs voted against Inverness (reportedly by 19-18), opting instead for Ferranti Thistle from Edinburgh. There was then 20 years without any further opportunity to apply. It’s totally disrespectful to suggest that the founding fathers of the club - the likes of Jock McDonald and Norman Miller just “came along”! And how dare you suggest that the Highland League is 'pub football'. Many individuals give years of their time to these clubs with little reward or recognition - and indeed are often run more prudently and conscientiously than the likes of The Rangers, Hearts, Dundee, Livingston (that irony will be lost on you, captain). The tone of your post suggests you’re too young to have experienced the pre-ICT days, so refrain from telling others how you think they should be feeling, on a matter in which you are unqualified to comment.

Not, in my view,ahead of the legend that is Jimmy Calder.....who, apart from anything else, unlike Mark Brown,was brilliant at saving penalties and who could build you a conservatory into the bargain......

Could it also be the case that English lower league players are harder working and more professional than Scottish lower league players?

Aye, Aye Captain! You'll clearly argue black-is-white until the 'cows come home'! Football is incredibly 'tribal'. Leaving aside 'glory hunters', who attach themselves temporarily to the current successful clubs, one grows up supporting a particular club. You're clearly passionate about ICT, which is terrific. They're probably a fabric of your life - and their results literally affect your mood and self-esteem/identity for at least a few days anyway? Football is competing with far more distractions than it's ever been challenged with before - and I feel this will continue to be the case in years to come. It will simply become less relevant to folk with so many other 'activities' available. Over the next 20-40 years, more clubs will be going part-time as their income lessens, economics will dictate. Mergers, to sustain viability, will be the norm. Don't think we'll be immune to that. Fast forward 25 years and the interest will likely dwindled, as most folk will spend Saturday afternoons playing 3D Call-Of-Duty at home (for example) or other. There could be the formation of a British 'Super League' - inevitably a Highland club called 'Inverness County' would follow - formed to compete in the 3rd or 4th tier. Colloquially known as 'County'. I'm sure Inverness County would do fine, punching-above-their-weight....and you'd be a happy man, Captain! But then a poster who's never seen Ross county or Inverness Caledonian Thistle playing came on the forum to denigrate the level (in this case, SPL) we'd been playing at, or it was implied that the new club was just simply a continuation of Ross County, you'd take umbrage - as passions run deep! Don't belittle the feelings folk had for their club - as it may happen to your club one day.

"Proper" were they? Oooh fancy! I wasn't aiming to belittle anyone, and if I did well then I must truly say, that from the bottom of my heart.....that I don't give a hoot if a few noses have gotten out of joint because they take a game so seriously. It's a little pathetic. You're essentially saying that anyone who hasn't endured (and I stress that) the lower leagues isn't a proper fan. You're bang out of line for that. Anyone who gives their hard earned money to follow their team, no matter when they started, no matter how often, no matter how much they spend, is a proper fan as far as I'm concerned. It's such snobbery and attitude that holds the club back "ooh you weren't there on the cold dark nights in Forres. You're welcome to spend your money, but you're not really one of us". It stinks. It's no better than the refuseniks who are still bitter approaching a quarter of a century later as opposed to being proud that a small team, any team, from the highlands, against all the odds and with a tiny budget has managed to win the main cup competition in the country and qualify for Europe. So do forgive me if I have no sympathy whatsoever for them at all. It's beyond childish.

Lets face it. Caley and Thistle were 2 diddy highland league teams. With the occasional cup flourish. Nothing more. Now some ambitious figures came along and wanted a team in the Scottish leagues, with an eventual aim of being a top flight team. That was the dream. It would never have happened had either team tried alone. Without the merger there would be no league football. No SPFL, no cup finals. No Scottish cup final wins. No European football. None of that. If you're happy watching glorified pub football then fine, the merger and subsequent success might not be for you, but it was the only way to bring Football success to Inverness. Now if those 12 old men who still have a grudge about it don't like it then fine. Because it's young fans and families and people enthusiastic about Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the city of Inverness doing well that we want to join the ranks. To come along and watch and help the club grow. Some people are just bitter.

One great club...making great history

wont be losing any sleep over this. we have lost far better players than this squad player hayes, rooney, cowie, robson, wyness....................... and still went on to win the cup. and now shinnie and watkins a tidy player he was never blessed with a finishing touch. apart from the hearts goal 2 stick out for me 1st goal the ball was played in to him, he was nearly on the goal line in the centre of the goal, no one near him. instead of sweeping it into the empty net he ended up scoring a " tam forsyth" cup final goal. 2nd my fav goal from him was wildly applauded by some on here during match day, so obviously not there to see it live, " good to see nick on the score sheet again" was the cry. we attacked down the left and the ball was played across to nick at the front post. he had a fresh air swipe with his left foot and the ball went past him to the defender who in his panic punted the ball away only to hit nick and the ball crossed the line. he knew nothing about it.

Nick Ross has signed a two year deal with Dundee.