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I have to say I thought he worked very hard yesterday.

Totally uncalled for and fairly predictable bullying behaviour. I wonder how many weaker/younger/inexperienced/less articulate posters you have chased away from this forum over the years.

Sorry but no one is to blame is not an answer. The board are ultimately I'm charge if they don't have the foresight to forsee problems then they are inadequate at their jobs and culpable for running the club into the ground. That is their role at the club to ensure finance is in place make sure the club survives. Lead from the top.

Hughes knew he was on a downward spiral with ICT, that's why he wanted to go to Dee utd, We should have let him go then. Making him stay was the worst rhing we could have done.

Yesterday was not brilliant in terms of entertainment or results but an optimist could argue it was a start in terms of a better defence. Vigurs was quite inspired as a captain but we lacked any cutting edge up front. As we reflect on the last 15 months we see a club buckling behind the scenes and of course on the pitch. It took some time for someone to work out a deal with Richie. There was a clear fear about money. Senior players wanted to move. Eventually a new chairman emerged, eventually a new manager emerged, there was no Donald Park to help him, eventually he managed to recruit a squad of players and to be fair, these players have potential. It was not good planning by the club so it remains quite unfair to ask John to go just now or have his contract terminated. He is working probably as hard as he has ever worked in management with a range of problems including the high expectations of supporters who have enjoyed the journey as we punched above our weight. Yesterday showed a little bit of stability in this storm. Not many people will expect us to pick up any points in our next 3 games during October. Few will expect us to beat Peterhead. Some of our greatest performances are in adversity.

I appreciate the financial difficulties, although the financial difficulties of not doing so may be greater but, if we get rid of the manager, we need to get rid of Rice and Kellacher as well. They have been part of the problem for too long now under too many different managers to be part of the solution. Any new manager need to be able to bring in his own choice of assistant and first team coach. The ship is too broken now to be able to fix just by swapping the figurehead and hoping for the best.

If the board had "followed John's demands' we wouldn't just be in the Championship now we'd be in administration.

Blair, I'm still not 100% sure precisely what you are asking, possibly largely because of the changing nature of the Board in recent years. Football club boards are evolving things and in the case of the ICT board, there has of late not only been evolution but a straight jump from one species to another! I also think that the origins of the current problem go back several seasons, although it has only manifested itself on the field within the last couple of years. It's very difficult indeed to know what's happening behind closed boardroom doors, especially when, until very recently, the board was as secretive as it used to be. However I have a feeling that the root cause was the progressive acquiescence to managerial demands for first team squad funding... in a financial climate where unpredictable windfalls and selling the family silverware had to be relied on to meet these demands as far as possible and juggle the profit and loss account. A lot of the rest of the difficulties follow on from there. I am led to believe that Terry Butcher was pretty accomplished at maximising what he could get from the board for squad funding, but on the other hand, his recruits were also of high quality and this led to fan satisfaction and a lot of performance related cash coming back in from good results (and of course extra bonuses to be paid.) Then when Yogi came along, the demands continued - escalated perhaps, given that this appears to have been the final cause of Yogi's departure. However Yogi's recruits were, to be generous, not quite of the same calibre as before, and as time went by, the club was paying above the odds for less and less productive personnel. I believe that Yogi just got away with winning the Scottish Cup fielding quite a few of Butcher's players but as more and more of his own signings had to be called upon, he began to be found out. Perhaps this also led to more and more strident demands for cash in his last year. Then when Yogi does go, the Board realises that it has painted itself into a corner as a result of this somewhat Faustian arrangement. They are now left with an expensive but much declined squad, and Yogi's gardening leave to pay into the bargain. They are really struggling to balance the books so pressure is on to go for the cheap option which is Richie Foran and I need say no more of last season, for which the presumably fairly imminent accounts to 31.5.17. are also going to make interesting reading. So, with another £1m+ off the budget on relegation, wages really have to be slashed leaving very little for players. The narrative has now reached the beginning of this season, but I really think that it's too early to attribute blame for the last two months for two linked reasons. For the reasons stated above, neither John Robertson nor the current Board have really been in post for long enough to be judged on what they have managed to do on what are now massively reduced resources, The current board numbers only four. Two, including the new Chairman, who has been in that post for just six weeks, were new recruited a few months ago. One dates back to 2015 and the fourth is longer serving. Five board members have departed this year in this rapidly evolving/species jumping process, so it's very difficult to attribute blame. Blair, that's the best take I can give you on it. This is purely a personal appraisal and I hope that it helps to answer some of the queries you had.

We have a goalkeeper and two full backs just now but will that be the case in January? Lets not forget that in an act of unbelievable incompetence we are actively trying to get rid of two of those players.

Not sure the following really belongs in here but it almost falls under the same topic so I'll lob it in anyway... We have a board that tells drivers on the A9 when the next home game is but is this not in the wrong place? Currently only traffic coming off the bridge will see it (maybe going on as well I can't remember) and I was wondering yesterday if a similar board on the A82 approach would be a better location? More likely to hit Inverness folk that way and therefore potential ICT fans. Those coming over the bridge probably already have a team you'd imagine.

Well done to the youngsters for negotiating a potentially difficult away tie and being in the draw for the next round The present is pretty bleak but it looks like there might be reason for some optimism about the future.

John Hughes and the board who backed him. He stretched our finances unnecessarily, then put himself in an untenable position knowing fine he would require to be paid until further employment was found, forcing us into converting Forans playing contract into a managerial one. Foran wasn't ready but was never going to turn down the offer.

And if Tremarco stays fit, I wouldn't be surprised if we get offers for him.

Desperately Seeking Susan

I have thought for a while regarding Caley the board were the cause of most of Caley problems overall regarding the team and I thought the board always acted like they were still in the Highland league. The reasons for me thinking that they always seem to pick whoever the cheapest for players or football managers. Refuse to kick out a manager when they do bad. The portakabin I was always surprised how long it stayed at the club even when they were in the Scottish Premiership.

It's not just Zschusschen. Seedorf and Elbouzadi seem to have vanished too. I don't believe any of them are injured. I think the reason they are not on the team sheets is that Robbo can't spell their names.

The pudding rose well with the previous manager's ingredients and methods but turned very stale very quickly thereafter.

What additional money was there to give Hughes? He'd already spunked shed loads of cash on a raft of unimpressive players, especially countless central midfielders, even if we did have cash to give him I'd have been pretty reticent about giving him any extra money given his spectacular failures in the transfer market during his tenure.

I don't think this is really a matter of opinion. It is a matter of fact that Hughes was given a significantly higher player budget than Butcher ever was. And I don't think anyone here would disagree that despite that, Hughes was unable to recruit players of the same calibre as Butcher did. There have been a number of threads which have compared the players who left and those who came during Hughes' tenure. Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but if you disagree with this, do us all a favour and provide some evidence to support your view.

Just an observation, but our 2 clean sheets this season (Brechin and QotS) both arose when Warren wasn't playing.

And your point is ? It seems to me that, in the current circumstances, the question is entirely pertinent and timely.

Dunno.. he employed Brewster the second time!

Long before I came north ; Inverness were becoming a legend ( I remember on the Bury message board people were commenting on an ICT result at Ibrox . In deepest Sussex I was reading stories of unbelievable victories. One of the reasons for me living up in these parts was the thought of watching this amazing team. I read Charles's book, (Against all odds ) and it read better than a novel, I ordered six copies and I sold them more or less straight away , interest in the team even in America and Australia was apparent . if it had been fiction nobody would have believed it . When I watched the semi finals - and then the finals against Aberdeen and Falkirk , I was really in my element It was wonderful. Now there is a equal and opposite reaction. If we ( and I use we with pride for an outlander ) are to survive and build again, we will be stronger and better for it.

People question where things have gone wrong for ICT. Obviously there are many deep rooted problems. This may be a strong statement with no evidence to back it up but I feel Vigurs has a massive negative influence on the team. The team is completely shot of confidence, we need a leader who leads by example by busting a gut, tackling, snarling around as well as encouraging and lifting those around him. What I see if Vigurs barking at refs, his own players and letting others do his job for him. The togetherness has gone, this has disappeared since his arrival at the club. I don't blame it all on him, but perhaps he has had a massive impact on that noticeable shift.

I know it's an old cliche, but really what do they do in training? Yesterday, the entire team looked unfit, poor on the ball, poor awareness, no drive and as static as a bunch of statues. I'm not someone who calls for the manager's head when they've essentially only just come in the door, but it clearly isn't working. Whether it's his fault or the players or both, they obviously aren't reacting to his methods and no-matter what ideas he has, they seemed to be doomed to fail. I think the time has come for Robbo to stand aside, where he can leave with his integrity intact and for the good of everyone else. It might not even be his fault, but something isn't working and it's time for someone else to come in and bring new ideas to the table.

Impossible to choose anyone after OFW. The whole bunch of them were atrocious.

Was that not Maradonna?

Hughes left the chairman at the time with no alternative. The mistake was in appointing a manager with no experience whatsoever and then following that up by appointing a manager with next to no experience if managing for over a decade. I feel that we have one more chance to get it right next time otherwise the consequences will be even more severe than they've been so far. There may have been issues with Graeme Bennett but he had an ability to spot potential in a manager. Something that seems to be entirely lacking at board level these days.

Think we're going to play the boys against Peterhead. Ordinarily, that would constitute playing a weakened team, but on this occasion I think it's the opposite! If some of U17s get a run out, they have deserved it and the "first" team should have it made clear that their places are on the line. Any decent performances should be rewarded with replacing the duds without a second thought.

It seems to me that the way we started indicated that the priority was to tighten up at the back. Part of that was a focus on keeping possession and we did that well enough up to a point. However, lack of movement and a general lack of ability to execute anything other than a simple pass meant that we never got far enough up the park to threaten. Defensively we were solid enough without really being tested. It was a bit like watching a Yogi side play - dull, dull, dull. QOS looked as though they had expected us to come out much more positively in the first half and it was no surprise that they took the game to us after the break. The game opened up but QOS always seemed the most likely. We had a lack of creativity in midfield and were utterly toothless upfront. Bell was the pick of the front 3 - and he was rubbish! OFW was a clear MOTM. None of the outfield players played well and there seemed to be players on different wavelengths all over the park. I remember 3 occasions when a ball was played to a player running into space, and from no more than 15 yards away, the ball was played behind them. Schoolboy errors! Falkirk, Dundee Utd and Dunfermline in our next three league games. I just don't see where we might get even a single point from those matches. These are dark days for our club.

SteveA I don't think there is any money for the changes you want, what we have is it for the season, we will either sink or survive in this division. Personally, I think it will be a close run thing.

Nobody should underestimate the depth of our problems right now. Relegation would be irreversible: ICT would return to part-time football. Even if we stay up, the word is that we'd have one more year to get back up, otherwise the result is the same. The core problem is that the support is evaporating with every passing game: even the die-hard support is collapsing. Why? The players show no heart, the management continues to flounder and the Board continue to stumble from one shambles to another. What's to like? It is really, really hard to find a reason to go to the games - they are not entertaining and you leave with the feeling of being cheated out of the entrance money. My concern is that there are zero signs at any level in the club for the decisive action necessary to turn this round and to bring the support back on side. I confess that I'm genuinely terrified about our future and each week that passes is another nail in the coffin.

Shame on you for posting such a ridiculous post!!!!! You obviously know nothing about the aims of The Travel Club and what is in their Constitution, our aim is to support the team and encourage members of the community, especially the young, to come along. The Travel Club work really hard at raising funds with many local businesses supporting them, nobody has to give money if they don't want to, as one of "the bucket rattlers!!!!" today I was touched at how supportive fans and visitors were, some actually dug deeper when they realised the cause. We asked the club for a date that was free so we did not deny anybody else. Please get your facts right before you post!

OFW kept us in the game with a couple of good saves. Luckily Queen of the South are as woeful as us in the strike department and rarely threatened. Despite this they looked the most likely to score on several of their charging responses. We however continued to misplace passes, punt balls forward to two of our smallest players ( Baird, Bell) and never looked like scoring,which I believe is the point of football and not playing not to lose !!!!!!

Ok here's a thought, Robbo said yesterday that the two coaches ( Kell and Rice) had both thought the players were still suffering a relegation 'hangover' - Most of the players weren't here last season, and the most glaring factor in our demise is..... Brian Rice! apart from the fact that RF was a shyte manager, Rice took over once Latapy jumped ship and it's been downhill ever since! Pretty far fetched i know but....

I'm sorry buy I just don't quite get your point. Almost all of what you're referring to is entirely retrospective since 38 of the games in question were in a different league under a different manager and different chairman, both departed, and a somewhat different board. 7 wins out of 38 last season - yes, we know.... we've been talking about it and analysing it for some time now. And then no wins in 3 games this season in a completely different set of circumstances, the boardroom side of which has only begun to indicate the will for radical change within the last six days. I don't think that merging these two different scenarios by use of two different tenses - "are" followed by "should have"- in the quoted statement is entirely appropriate. In the early stages of a new manager constructing a new team with a vastly reduced budget and six days after a definite statement of intent and change from within a new boardroom environment, it might be better to take the 38 as the well established past.... and the 3 as the start of a new phase which would be more accurately judged at a later date.

Is it down to the loch I fear? Play your best players: OFW, Raven, Warren, Polworth, Vigurs, Trafford, McKay Play players that can possibly get better: Seedorf, Bell Play the best of the rest in a formation that maximises our strengths, i.e. midfield and defence. Now I know many of these best players are past their best or have other weaknesses but they are still our best. With the lack of goalscorers and creative talents, that means getting point by other means than a striker. So, probably wingbacks at this stage: OFW Seedorf Raven Warren McKay Tremarco Trafford Polworth Vigurs Bell +1 rotating other until someone shows a bit of spirit

charitys have being watching the football this season so far so i would have thought they would be the ones telling the club to GTF

i no the real reason how he got sacked but will not talk about it on here

And your point is, caller?

Saiid it before and I'll say it again. Getting rid of John Hughes was the biggest mistake the board have ever made.

We've been broken down To the lowest turn Bein' on the bottom line Sure ain't no fun But if we should be relegated Huh, from the Championship We'll just move back on up And still carry on Oh (Hold on) hold on (Hold on) hold on Ooh, aah, baby (Hold on) hold on (Hold on) ooh ooh aah The only way is up, baby For you and me now The only way is up, baby For you and me now Aah