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Players like Dani Lopez were a gamble, we got players injured during pre-season last year so some were stop gap signings with limited success - as much as I'm not a fan Vigurs has been good as has Mutumbo in flashes, however the bigger concern isn't the cheap, available, emergency signings but the likes of Wedderburn & Horner who were specific targets and are struggling to step up. Moving to DUtd IS a step up, we are a club with a smaller fan base and budget, just because they are below us in the league that doesn't make them unattractive much like Hibs and The Rangers. Last Sunday night I passed Yogi on the A9, presumably going back home to his family - I have no idea how many times a wk he makes that trip but I know that even occasional journeys frustrate me so can only imagine a few trips a week will drain your sanity. Although Yogi signed a longer contract that doesn't mean his family and personal life should be less important than his professional - if he got offered a good profile job closer to home, I think he'd take it, any one of us would. In some aspects I criticise Hughes, but its important to try look beyond just the obvious and try understand the bigger picture, yes mistakes are made but we have also had success. A few years ago we had a transition when some stalwarts were moved on and some fans thought the club would implode and die, then after a few years we had our most successful ever periods of 2 consecutive cup finals including winning one and entering European football. After making it onto the radar in the media and for other clubs we have had key players poached or leave for better prospects/finances so are yet again in transition - Yogi needs to change his negative attitude in the press and playing style but still deserves backing to see what he can do next year and where he can take us.

Not sure how I feel about a management system that believes Danny Devine is worthy of a contract but not David Raven...

Oh now come on! 'Mediocre'?! He wasn't that good!

I'm delighted with this announcement for so many reasons. First - brilliant news for both Liam and for the club. He's really come on this season and it is great to see another local lad making it - 3 years is wisde too: if anybody wants him they;ll have to pay! Second - at last a statment from the club! This has been very well-crafted, with information that we've all been seeking and guessing (sometimes wrongly) about. For example, timely efforts were made to keep Danny Williams, but he chose not to accept the offer in December, which is his right. Now we know. Equally, it seems that Aaron Doran is the main target. Still a risk in my opinion, but the club doc seems to be advising that he's healthier than some others, so that's good enough for me. Also some new faces in the pipeline (but obviously not the Partick Thistle lads), so hopefully exciting developments there. The pieces are finally starting to fall into place for the first team, with 3 of the back four sorted, Draper and Tansey (hope we can keep him), Polworth, hopefully Doran and maybe even Storey. That leaves a goalie, right back (I wonder if there's somebody who might be interested?) left-sided midfielder and the supporting cast, with hopefully some of the young guns pushing for places. I agree with some of the comments above - there seem to be some different messages coming from Yogi and the club....

Fair enough. Football fans are mostly idiots (and I include myself in that sweeping generalisation as well). ICT fans will moan if we pass the ball along the back screaming for the players to get it forward at which point, when the ball is launched forward, the same fans will rage about, erm, launching the ball forward. Just ignore them and get behind the team.

As Sneckboy has alluded to on a number of occasions Firhill continues to be our hoodoo venue. Time to shake the monkey of our back and secure our Premier place without having to rely on others. Yogi will probably go unchanged from the Killie game BUT I would go like this: Fon Williams Raven Meekings Warren Tremarco Polworth Tansey Vigurs Draper Mutombo Storey The defence is self-explanatory and Devine needs to be rested. I would put Polworth in the "Tansey" position. He can do the short and long passing game well. That should put Tansey and Vigurs higher up the pitch. Raven and Tremarco are only too capable of providing the cover. Put Draper where he can use his aerial ability and ghost in to the box. Play Mutombo and Storey right up front and use their pace and energy.

I disagree. There is circa £200,000 difference in prize money between tenth and seventh spot. We need to play our strongest team between now and the end of the season. The extra cash available could be the difference between being able to recruit and retain the players we want for next season or not.

The reason J H had the Club's biggest budget was because of the injury crisis and the loss of 'Stars' which was very severe, Players had to be brought in hurriedly for cover. OK some of them didn't make the grade but to me that is understandable, they were new, had to fit in to a different style of play and had in some cases to play out of position, not easy from any angle. J H may not get everything right but he has had more success here than any other manager we have had, we should be grateful for that and there is every chance that the new season coming up will see us back to quality play and good results.

I would hope JH isn't thinking of leaving after just signing a new contract. Dundee United will not be in a healthy financial position so I'm not sure they can afford to sack Mixu, never mind bring in a manager who is already contracted. I also think Mixu has been a bit unfortunate and he should be given a chance in the championship. Press and Journal saying that Doran is about to sign a new contract, which would be brilliant news for the club. He's such talented player and has been sorely missed this season, his creativity and ability to beat players is exactly what we've been missing. It's crazy that he's only 24, he's been around for years now! I'm slowly starting to feel quite hopeful for next season and I hope the upcoming signings fuel my optimism!

They haven't done anything! I set it up. This has nothing to do with A fb page. When setting it up through change.org I misread what it was asking to. I thought it needed to go through someone for permission to post it! That's not the point though! The point is seeing how many fans will sign it and actually want David Raven to stay! Then when it's worthwhile, I contact either the p&j or any other source of press to make it know to all including the club which would hopefully put pressure on them to give him a contract. Theres no saying it'll work, but people always go on about clubs listening to fans...well if the club see a petition with 500 or whatever signings to it they'll maybe take notice of the fans for a change.

I'm sure you must have been devastated by that....

Agree with that. It's an absolute "Sit down" statement from the board to Hughes and his recent comments.

I believe the question is aimed at whoever steals other peoples comments on Twitter and posts them on FB in the name of Inverness Loyal Army. In other words plagiarism

Glenalbyn, Tarry Isle, Caley Club, Nip Inn, Innes Bar, Tomatin Inn >>>>>>.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A chance to complete the 'set' tomorrow! Reminder: On league duty, Inverness CT have beaten every team (home-and-away) who has ever been in the SPL/Premiership - except Partick Thistle at Firhill! This will obviously change next season with a new team in the ranks! But, for now, it's the Maryhill club who are something of a jinx! It is 'only' 4 matches, but our record is: 0 wins, 1 draw, 3 defeats.

Graeme Shinnie and Jonny Hayes have been selected by their footballing peers as worthy of inclusion in the Premiership Team of the Year. Similarly, Rory McAllister has made the team in Scottish League One.

Would be nice to see a couple of development players who are to be given a contract for next year feature in these last few games now that safety is all but guaranteed, instead of the likes of Williams and Vincent who will be moving to a rival club next season. There must be another Shinnie/Ross/Christie/Polworth coming through.

Can't argue with this. Foran in for Vigurs, due to suspension?

Oooh living dangerously there. I called them out on it once and they banned me!

Me thinks one of your selection is suspended

You win some you lose some.... we can't afford out and out proven players, so we have to take risks, on occasions they pay off as they have done in recent seasons, this season admittedly it hasn't been a great one for the new signings, however hopefully the retention of the backbone of the squad and a couple additions that come in and pay dividends and we could be battling and getting back to top 6 football next year. Why go to a club in the championship that is clearly on a massive downward spiral? JH comments about funding are clearly to do with league position and prize money, its tough for him to compete on the budget and he's covering his own back with comments which is fair. How can he be expected to replicate last season consistently on the budget he and the club has? I think that is his position to make us the fans a bit more realistic in our expectations. The board have obviously stated a budget now we are staying up, but to me looks like they have indicated a willingness to give a little more should we finish 7th and win a bit more in terms of league prize money. I like the fact that JH is honest about these things, personally I think people are reading too much into things regarding an in house feud between board and JH. Biggest budget we have ever had.... good to read.... but still going to be one of, if not the smallest in the league so lets be realistic on expectations regarding this statement and not expect miracles.

I find it a little bit unnerving that John Hughes had the biggest budget of any ICT manager and wasted it on mediocre players like Dani Lopez for example.

Great to hear the clubs thoughts and see that they have been putting substantial (for this club) resources his way A little bit worrying that the board and JH dont always seem to be on the same page however. Any requests JH may have for more funds from the board should be kept strictly confidential IMO. He already has the largest budget we have ever had so for him to be demanding more is frankly ridiculous. He has worked at smaller clubs than us with smaller budgets and been able to sign decent players so I personally think he needs to act a bit more professional with the media and respect the private nature of budgets. All things being well our clubs board should not have to come out with statements like this and its my guess that this has only happened because of the ill feeling that has arisen from JHs comments in the press about lack of funds.

The statement from the club clarifies and adds the transparency we have been seeking but doesn't still align with the message from Yogi. There is another interesting article from the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36165670 - this suggests the public targets from Partick are now outwith our reach. If as suggestions around that Doran is about to resign, hopefully he can provide the missing creative spark, also given that Vigurs staying seems likely we are close to a starting 11. The comments about quality over quantity perhaps suggest that some of the 'emergency' signings due to our injury issues maybe on their way as they just haven't cut it at this level - Hughes, R.Williams, Fisher, Wedderburn are 4 that spring to mind - Roberts has disappeared so whether he is no longer in the plans or has agreed to go elsewhere its safe to assume he is gone and Mutumbo is really a player that's 50/50 - he has got better but will he make the grade longterm. The striker position is the huge concern, where to find that goalscorer? Is always a gamble - Storey started well but has faded a bit perhaps due to loss of confidence and also being out of position. We see Billy McKay scored goals for fun with us but at DUtd cant get a run going, we had Sam Winnall and he never looked anything like a player when here but is now top scorer in League 1 down south - somewhere a gamble has to be made because we cant afford a proven scorer unfortunately.

Justified speculation. René Gade, 29th April 2016

Good news Polly!!! he's one of our own! And finally some communication from the board - tells us enough to keep us happy without saying so much that they give away targets etc to other clubs. Unfortunate that nothing mentioned regarding the future of the Rave...is he really going to go.....?!

Rumour doing the rounds is he's been lined up as the next Brora manager.

Yes see you Saturday John :)

Lost me again. There is only 2 people involved in 'actively organising' these Gellions buses at the moment myself and Rory, and neither of us are on the board of CJT? Anyway, hopefully see you all Saturday! Ross

You have lost me? I have never expressed an interest in joining the CJT board? and I agree, allies, nor rivals :)

Cheers folks, hopefully all goes well and this will be a regular thing. As you say, the more fans we get to games the better :) See you at Dundee!

...but is now being 'bumped'! Partick Thistle away is the next game! Can we finally do it, when we return after the break?! C'mon, let's complete the set! Unfortunately, we may have a club called 'Rangers' in the league next season. And, as they're new to me, and Scotland's top-flight, we'll obviously have to beat them home-and-away at some stage, to maintain our record!

I hope not. We need him. Also how can you judge that Fisher hasn't cut it at this level. He played half a game for us then got injured. Second your comment on Billy McKay is a bit out. He scored 54 times for us in 121 games. Thats 2.24 games per goal. Hes scored 12 in 26 games at United. Thats 2.16 games per goal. Sam Winnall ony made two starts for us and he was on loan.

Together with the lack of wit to come up with anything worth saying of their own...

This one sentence epitomises the CaleyThistle fan!

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/106984/prince-philip-returns-to-support-methil-exhibition/ Once famously referred to as "a dump" by a certain straight talking Hellenic gentleman.

Presumably East Fife's local rivals therefore play in Ethyl, Propyl and Butyl?

That is indeed an articulate, informative, realistic and encouraging statement. After all the incoherent, negative and somewhat inconsistent 'statements' from the manager it is refreshing. Perhaps he would be better served by attempting to manage the team and leave such public utterances in future to others...