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https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/1269483/shearer-frustrated-did-not-get-face-to-face-meeting-with-caley-thistle/ So folk on here think the appropriate way to tell someone their services are no longer needed is to do it via email and leaving a voicemail rather than have a face to face chat with them? Regardless of how Shearer left the club before two wrongs don't make a right and this is a pretty shoddy way to treat a long serving club employee. Whilst there was a follow up phone call between the chairman and Shearer that doesn't disguise the fact that it was initially handled in a piss poor manner. Yet again the club find themselves having to take corrective action to clear up another PR mistake. We just don't seem to learn.

In retrospect, maybe some should refrain from posting damaging criticism directed at the club before the truth has been revealed. Just saying

The club will make an official announcement once it has been in all the papers

Voicemail, not email. Still terrible though - everybody knows the correct way to announce Shearer's departure from ICT is to let him do it himself in a gloating manner on a low budget TV show with Tam Cowan.....

As things stand - Goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams Ryan Esson Cameron Mackay (we think) Daniel Hoban Defenders David Raven Carl Tremarco Gary Warren Brad Mckay Alistair Stark Kevin McNaughton (if he signs a new deal) Midfielders Ross Draper Liam Polworth Aaron Doran Jake Mulraney Iain Vigurs Strikers Scott Boden Andrew MacRae John Baird One would presume Cameron Mackay and/or Daniel Hoban will go out on loan, while we can't really expect Stark and MacRae to walk into the first team straight away. We're well covered in goal, while (especially should McNaughton stay) our defensive is pretty solid. Could maybe do with one more centre back though. We can assume Baird is signed but I'd like to see one more Alex Fisher-style target man brought in. Midfield has quality, but maybe another central midfielder and another winger would finish the team off nicely. I'd make that four more signings after Baird.

They are!!!!! Its every one else that tells them

Not necessarily as who knows whats really happened. Big Dunc is obviously a legend up here but and i am just playing devils advocate here in defense of our club what if he was just a wee bit bitter at losing his role and this story has been embelished knowing about the previous pr blunder. Just sayin we shouldn't be ready as fans to tarnish the clubs name when not one of us actually knows what really happened.

Notwithstanding the Shearer question it's rather hard to believe that the club think that ditching the U20s is a smart move at the same time County have just lifted the development league title. If you're the ICT supporting parent of a promising 12 year old and both clubs come in for you which club would appear to be offering a clearer pathway to first team football and what would be the point of sticking with ICT if you're currently a stand out for the ICT under 15s? You'd have thought we might have learned our lesson from the Stuart Armstrong situation when we last were demoted. I would very much appreciate if the club could make a clear statement as to how they see the youth set up functioning given the absence of an outlet for U20s. As a youth football coach myself I truly am all ears on this one.

Tomorrow's P&J says Shearer was told of his departure by voicemail. It also includes his own quotes confirming it. Poor show from Caley Thistle.

Thought I'd start a transfer thread in its own right for the up coming season. Any new players coming in can be listed here along with our thoughts on how they will fit in

Obviously with everything else that is, or rather isn't going on at ICT it's understandable that this has slipped through the cracks but I see that Doncaster is trying to move forward with the introduction of Colt teams into the SPFL set up: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/spfl-consider-introducing-colt-teams-into-league-system-1-4473517 Initially, Colt teams would start in the Highland or Lowland leagues and, if successful, work their way up the pyramid with a ceiling of League One. All SPFL clubs have been invited to give feedback to the proposal (nice to exclude the Highland and Lowland League clubs from the consultation). I am 100% against the idea of allowing Colt sides into the league set up. As has been pointed out on P & B one of the best things about supporting a lower league side is one day seeing them win the league. Imagine missing out on that because Celtic B win the league ahead of you and, if you are in League One, they can't even go up. It's a fantastic way for Doncaster and his croonies to basically piss off half of the league to appease the blue and green masses in Glasgow. I don't see how it would do anything for the development of these younger players. Playing against League Two opposition isn't going to turn some U21 at Rangers into a world beater. If these players are good enough then they will break into the first team. The simple fact is that a lot of players coming through the youth set ups at some teams simply aren't good enough. Playing against a part time plumber from Elgin isn't going to change this. It's up to the likes of Rangers, Celtic and whoever else to develop and blood their younger players to continue their improvement. Indeed the appearance of Colt teams in the Challenge Cup, branded a success by Doncaster for some reason despite most Colt sides getting pumped out at the second round and rotten crowds present for these games, seems to be a precursor to the inevitable appearance of these sides in the league set up. Sadly it seems, as is almost always the case, that Scottish football is being run for the benefit of two clubs and I'm rapidly approaching the end of my tether with it all. I'm hopeful that ICT will object to these proposals when they feedback to the SPFL.

I'm happy to have Baird - could be any reason for Falkirk releasing him, doesn' necessarily mean he isn't any good. Said this before but some players 'fit' better at some clubs thsn others, maybe he just fancied something different? Anyway, anybody who scores an extra time winning goal against sevco - whoops, rangers - in a cup final (challenge cup, for Raith Rovers) is ok with me!

Peter Houston on of the ball today was asked which players he was losing. One was John Baird as he was off to Inverness. It saves the club having a press release when you can hear it second hand from Tam Cowan.

My sources say the same. As alluded to in my post yesterday, I heard about the story in The Sun yesterday lunchtime. The club's statement smacks of a desperate attempt at damage limitation. I bet the new chairman may have been told where to stick his 'Duncan Shearer Cup!

I believe DSs story is accurate. Decent sources.

Spot on. Im as happy clappy as they come but this is shabby pure and simple

Gave you a green dot for your first post Yngwie. You then ruined it with your next post in mentioning 'The Sun'

I've been to a few development games this season and a few in the lowland league too. There isn't much difference in terms of crowds at all. It's also likely they won't romp the leagues as they are just young boys learning their trade. I prefere the idea to loans. I would love Inverness and County to have B teams in the highland league rather than a development league. It gives the players a chance to play competitive football in a team that is almost going to be mimicking the big side so when they are ready they will fit in with tactics etc. I really don't see the issue with having them in at tier 5, highland/lowland level. Mantis as a fan of Whitehill Welfare what would be your opinion on playing a Hibs + Hearts colt side?

This sounds as bad as the way our PM has handled events in London!

He's already got his £200 brief for the Jail End.

I only quoted from the paper copy of the P & J this morning so unable to post a link! They may well have the wrong information but were the club slow in issuing a statement?

maybe this will encourage the alarmists to use rumour mill in future:-

Excellent prices for the Brechin (and Falkirk) games. Obviously the free entry for ST holders is only for the Brechin game. Good stuff from the club.

Because (some of) these former players are good ones who might be available so they might be considered less of a risky, unknown signing. If we were offered the services of former players like Shinnie x2, Watkins, Christie you'd say no because they were former players? Doubt it. ETA: Just clocked who I was replying too

Telford Street Colts would do okay, won the Morvich Shield v. Drakies in '80.