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Haha. Torch protest. Is the protest that we were good for a couple of seasons and now we are back to below average. Thats football, unless we muster up 50,000 fans get used to it, we made some very shrewd signings who developed well with game time here, we brought a few gems through the youth system. They left for more money, mostly play for the top 2 teams in Scotland or down in England. Our wages is circa 1,000 a week or a bit more. If players are successful they will move on to bigger and better things, which is fair. We didn't replace them well, there was never a guarantee we would, otherwise it would be boring. Our Senior players are ageing quicker than we thought. Things are bad, but hopefully its temporary. Its what footballs all about. Lows make the highs even higher. On the whole our club is pretty well run, we have experienced europe and a scottish cup win and are the envy of many teams. The board have made some bad choices, but should be given the opportunity to turn it round. It could be worse, you could support a basket case club like Dundee, have your ravenellis and odd good season but also have the administrations, and no cup wins for donkeys and...Neil McCann!

I am astonished that anyone is contemplating having John Hughes back as a manager. His signings were even poorer than Foran's and our style of play had become so predictable that teams soon sussed out how to play against us and we had no plan B. Would we have changed our style this season under John Hughes and been more exciting to watch, would he have signed better players than previously, the evidence suggests otherwise. There are in fact many similarities between JH and RF's style of management in that they are both stubborn and will not change their approach even when everyone can see that change is needed. Is that the one bit of experience RF picked up from JH?

The Prime Minister has, opportunistically, called a snap general election for 8th June. The SNP will, of course, stand on a clear and unequivocal manifesto to hold a referendum on independence. Should they win a majority of seats in Scotland, the Westminster government will have absolutely no continuing tenable argument for refusing without blatantly flying in the face of democracy. Bring it on !

I think what happened was Richie favoured his own signings & froze Fisher out.I have watched every minute Anier has played and he is not a patch on Fisher!. Richie I believe persisted with Anier for so long hoping he would come good, but never did. Don't think he has scored a goal yet?. For everyone who was at the Motherwell game you could see quite clearly what we have been missing!!!!!!!!!!!!. Clearly on a professional basis your best players have to be played every game if available. Ritchie's lack of experience & man management skills are very much evident, unfortunately!.

Showed plenty loyalty when he picked up a wage for 3 years and hardly kicked a ball fcuk him sack him hes a nugget

Scarlett, I would have JH back in a heartbeat, he is the one who should have been offered a 4 year deal. He created a style that the club could have used as a template for future iCT teams, build up the play from the back, give the midfield time to support the strikers and ensure that all of the opposition players had to defend thereby preventing any quick breaks against our defence. Due to this system of play we were able to get results when we had players missing simply because we denied them the ball for long periods.The performance against Astra who were a quality team was excellent and very controlled despite us having lost our two best players to transfers, we basically lost the game to a goalkeeping error OFW's first of many. The current team has no playing philosophy or structure, all the good work by JH has been thrown overboard, we are almost certainly going down I just hope it is not the board's intention to leave RF in place or we may find ourselves in Div 1 before long, it's all very sad and in my opinion was avoidable, the board's hubris has come back to haunt them, they should be forced to watch the cringe inducing interview they aired at the start of the season when RF waxed lyrical about how great things were going to be for ICT in front of a smug Kenny Cameron, how the mighty are fallen,does anyone, anyone? really think we would be relegated with this squad if JH were in charge of it? not a chance.

I think all we can do just now is keep backing the team. Here's an example, County Away Scottish cup match. Going a goal down in the 93rd minute. The fans got louder and backed the team to the very end, regardless of the outcome. (Que Derek Adams tantrum) We don't really have a lot of options tbh. Same manager, different manager, no manager, our team still needs the support. Time of goal scorers in match vvvvv Rocco Quinn (49) Iain Vigurs (85) Richard Brittain (90+3) Billy Mckay (30) Richie Foran (74) Richie Foran (95) Starting Lineup

It's most likely that the relegation clause will be a reduction on wages and bonuses. I know that the last time we were relegated the players (at least the ones I spoke to) mentioned this. One of them said it was about 30%. I doubt there's a clause about sacking him if relegated. As I said at the start if the season maybe Richie is the right person for the job but it's the wrong time. One of 2 things should have happened imo. Either he should have gone down to a smaller club for a few seasons to cut his teeth and learn the trade then come in as manager OR he should have been made assistant manager for a few seasons then stepped up. I don't think the board are fully to blame here as nobody put a gun to Richie's head to take the job and he will have known better than anyone the resources available to him over the season. He presumably convinced the board he was the right man. That said the fact that a 4 year deal was given to a completely untested manager is shall we say, most unorthodox! A rolling contract should have been offered. We now have a manager who sadly looks over his head and we can't afford to pay off. Playin the blame game at this stage however doesn't offer solutions and I've got no fecking idea on that front. Some of the comments on Facebook are hilarious though!

It seems to be about as visible as a pointless torch light demonstration would have been in broad daylight !

Interestingly odd, they didn't think Hartley could stop their slide with his experience and overlook managers who have worked in the top flight with various success for a TV pundit with no experience at all - perhaps the Hartley sacking wasn't just about on the park but business movements off it too. I'm now less worried about a turn around at Dundee than I was when I heard they were making a change - we need to push hard and pick up 3 points at home V Hamilton and anything else we can scrape before we visit Dens - that could be a huge game now. I've been supportive on here of Hughes, but he's gone and I wouldn't want him back. it's really saddening that every time we talk about managers or players there's so many posts calling for old names to return. People left for a reason, lets not forget them but concentrate on the future and moving on - very seldom do returning persons make the same impact as first time round - partially due to a bit of 'rose tinited glasses' but also the increased expectations - much like a breaking band and the awkward 2nd album syndrome.

Yet we have beaten ourselves many times this season and the manager remains.

Doubtful any new contracts will be offered until we know for sure what division we're going to be in.

Even a single year out of the top division will cost us over twice as much as we made from the cup win so logically you would swap that for Premiership survival. However, football has very little to do with logic and personally I wouldn't swap that wonderful euphoric afternoon in Glasgow for anything.

I will happily support my team through thick and thin if the players are giving their all and the club management is reasonably competent. Ups and downs are a feature of sport and there is no entitlement for us to be in the top division. But, enough is enough. Foran is miles out of his depth and has taken a reasonable bunch of players to a destination that should never have been on the cards. There is no way that our squad is the weakest in the premiership, but we are the worst team and we play shocking football. Entertainment is the name of the game and what's on show is far rom entertaining and won't change unless the management changes. When that happens, I'll be back.

Foran won't go so unless change is made at the boardroom level then he willl lead us in our campaign to stay up and more likly a promotion campaign. The mess with Hughes has left us in this position. I think Richie was being groomed to manage at some point but the mess we got ourselves in with Hughes left us to promote foran early. I don't think had funds been available that he would be manager now and with relegation almost a formality unless some kind of miracle, then even less money than last summer it is hard to see them sack another manager so early into a long term deal. I've said in another thread he should stay in some capacity but just not manager but if the excuse was no money last summer then it is even more apt if we are a championship club face it guys Richie is going nowhere fast unless something changes at the top.

Has the light show thread been deleted?

If that is the case, then I have no sympathy for RF. The club, the fans and people's jobs are much bigger than one man's pride.

Richard Smith originally was, and probably always was, a member of the Mills Boys. Even at Sneck the boardroom politics are fascinating. Perhaps Kenny Cameron will do a Teresa May and seek a vote of confidence ?

...with new leadership on and off the park and a sound strategy for long-term sustainability.

Why not designate Charlie as assistant manager and both he and Richie can then SHARE the responsibility for the remaining games? At least that would oblige Mr. Foran to have to consider an alternative way to the finish line and share the load and the stress of his unwelcome position. It's needs must when the Devil drives, folks--and there is no time to lose now. James, get the horses round here pronto. Right now I feel really sorry for Richie since it does seem that the Board has HUNG HIM OUT TO DRY!. Are THEY out of ideas as well? Where is the experienced help? At first sight it does appear that the way he is being treated by the Board of Directors is as shameful as it is neglectful. Is the kitty so incredibly empty that an extra pound spent here and there matters that much at this crucial stage of the history of ICT? If the kitty ran out with J Hughes' departure why were the financial ramifications, that might result from these circumstances relating to J Hughes, not already foreseen long before this and some term included in J.H's contract to offset the possibility of that happening? That's not Richie's fault so, who can he turn to in his hour of need? Anybody? The Board?...Is he viewed as disposable Kleenex waiting for someone to pick up, put in the garbage can and then the lid is slammed shut + End of story? It's not guilt that I see in Richie's face. HE has done his very best and I feel certain about that. So why should HE feel guilty about anything? No man or woman can do more than their best efforts. It's frustration, bemusement, fear and disappointment I see. More devastation than guilt don't you know?What can one expect from a gentleman like Richie who has no previous managerial experience? WHO was his right -hand man, pray? Nobody forsooth. Sorry, I'm quitting now because I am steaming mad at this fiasco and afraid to continue.

Would love to think we'd have a chance, but we wouldn't. I genuinely think Mckay has this club at his heart, but in an open market, would we even be close to competing with....let me think...Aberdeen, for example?

is the joke of a chairman actually on holiday somewhere nice without a care ?

Question i want an answer to, is, would a Board dimwitted enough to hand a rookie/unproven manager a 4 year contract, been as smart as to include a Relegation Clause. If not....heads should roll

Have you made it to many away matches this season? I thought Motherwell yesterday was a cracking awayday. The stewards were great, the home fans good banter and the catering was decent too. The thought of going to Livingston next season instead of Easter Road and Tynecastle doesn't exactly fill me with excitement, but each to their own, I suppose. Part time football (probably) beckons and I can see us plummeting down the leagues.

Why, what on earth were the two of you doing? Oh wait, I see what you mean!

At the time I thought the Scottish Cup win would probably be the pinnacle, in my lifetime, of being an ICT fan. I expected that we'd decline slightly from there, but what I didn't expect is the complete collapse and capitulation of the side within the space of just two years since. It's incredible!

Absolute rubbish.

I'll certainly be behind this. Good to see peaceful means being used rather than something that'll bring bad attention to the club. Good on the young team

Was that ANOTHER poor decision from the ref today when the press and other fans seems to suggest that the ball was not over the line when Fon Williams scooped it up? If that goal had not ben given then ICt might have won that game? At least according to Martin Dowden--see below. And I have had a sneaking feeling for some time now that the power brokers who run Scottish football have not exactly been overjoyed at the success in recent times of the jumped up little team with heart from the north whose courage and hard work have put the major monied teams such as Celtic and Rangers in their place. And have these feelings somehow trickled down to their appointed referees accompanied by a nudge-nudge, wink-wink do you think? Mmmm? Based solely on some of their decisions against our team that I have seen, which were absolutely unbelievably wrong, who knows? http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39536661

Well, I'm glad that we seem to have got that sorted out. But I regret to say I remain unconvinced that there is absolutely nothing wrong here in the officiating that doesn't deserve intense scrutiny and fixing permanently. If you don't have fairness in this part of the game you might as well shut up shop and throw the ball to a bunch of wee boys or lassies, depending on which set gets there first. As I look at some of the decisions seen on the videos this term alone, it just seems that every time there is a chance for the refs to blow against ICT they are onto it in a flash. When was the last time you saw a ref consulting with his linesman nearest to the action? At the risk of sounding like a broken record I have to admit that rarely is their ever a dispute on a foul in North American Ice hockey because ;- (a). They have cameras which have zoom capability built in along with replay capability together with real time video replays on screens in the floor behind the player's benches so that the coach of each team can review the action as well. Then the ref goes into a huddle with his two linesmen and studies the video. If they still can't make up their minds they immediately phone the Head Office in Toronto and ask them to adjudicate by reviewing the video and render a decision. Rarely is the result challenged because this is as about fair as you can get. The video shows every angle from cameras both directly above the goal and to the sides of it plus along the sides of the rink etc,. It's a very realistic and professional way of adjudicating issues. And I have hoped that the SFA would put cameras at least along the goal line so what is stopping them.? Afraid that the referee's deficiencies and incompetence will be highlighted or is it the cost? Imagine the SPL worried more about the cost of a couple of cameras rather than the fairness. Opinions on the need for cameras please?

Should have come to upper teer then? Caleyaway doing their best to support/lift the team

The tweet was very very poorly timed. He should be focusing on his own team, not any others. Shows how little he cares