Leaderboard

Following ICT means we’re all long distance supporters.

There is no reason why Board members need to be born and bred Invernessians. In my opinion, what matters is that those involved have the desire to contribute to the Board, to make a positive difference and to work with the club to enhance it, both on and off the pitch. They are giving their time voluntarily for no financial or other gain, so should get our collective support. Having a varied Board with different backgrounds is important for it to work well. I consider myself a local, but only moved to the Highlands when I was 4, spent my school days in Fort William, then ended up in the central belt and I only lived in Inverness (first time round) in 1992. Work then took me away for a number of years before returning 8 years ago. That in no way detracts from my passion for the club.

This is not intended as an opinion on what the trust should or should not do. I post this purely for information and because Peter has stated that he stands willing to be corrected. This snippet is from the clubs articles of association. As at the last return, there are 4,902,379 ordinary shares issued. Supporters Trust have 13,658 shares, of which 108 have enhanced rights....leaving 13,550 "ordinary" rights. The enhanced shares are, in todays terms, equal to 490,237 shares....and we then add the 13,550....total 503,787 As per the company articles 900,003 of the ordinary shares carry no voting right, so issued shares with voting powers total 4,002,376 and this gives the trust a voting right of approx 12.6% in real terms This is the second largest single entity voting right which exists within the club right now and far surpasses the total voting right of all current directors combined. The largest shareholding/voting right sits with the ICT Trust (a different entity to the supporters trust). The company articles state no need for club directors to stand down and/or be reelected by rotation. They have the power to appoint new directors and are, at present, entirely self appointed with no elected members on the board. A shareholder resolution can be raised by giving sufficient notice ahead of any general meeting for the election of a board member. The Supporters Trust could do that now if they so desired. The current board do not hold anything like sufficient shares between them to stop that resolution and would need support from others to do so...if they so wished.

Matchday Two   Last season's nearly men are the hosts on matchday 2 as we visit Gayfield to take on Arbroath. Saturday at 3:00pm is the time to be there with both clubs looking to improve on opening day draws in the cinch championship. Its a tough place to take points away from although we were the only club who managed that last season in the league. Hibs were the only other side to defeat them there, and that was in a Scottish Cup tie. Arbroath had a fantastic season last term and may find it difficult to emulate that this season. Nonetheless, its still a massive challenge to get something from these games with Dick & Dom at the helm. MATCH/TICKET/SUPPORTERS BUS INFO On day one, the Smokies were held to a scoreless draw at Somerset Park. They ended the game a man short when Thomas O'Brien was red carded. He will now miss Saturday's game. We fared little better with a 1-1 draw at home to newbies Queens Park who took an early lead through Jake Davidson before Billy Mckay equalised just before the break. Both teams spurned numerous opportunities and both keepers did well to keep the score level. Venue H2H v Arbroath Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 22 16 3 3 56 18 +38 Away 20 9 5 6 26 22 +4 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 42 25 8 9 82 40 +42 First Competitive Meeting Aug 13th, 1994  League ((Div 3)) (Hercher hat-trick: Legend) (H) 5 - 2 Most Recent Competitive Meeting May 13th, 2022 League (Playoff) (Semi Final 2nd Leg) (A) 0 - 0 Last 10 Competitive Meetings 0 - 0 (A) 0 - 0 (H) 3 - 0 (H) 0 - 0 (A) 0 - 1 (H) 1 - 0 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 1 - 1 (A) 3 - 1 (H) 0 - 1 (H) Biggest Victories Jul 30th, 2016 League Cup (Group C) (H) 7 - 0 LATEST TEAM NEWS  Robbie Deas misses out again in his second game for accumulated bookings. Shane Sutherland and Tom Walsh are long term injuries. Sean Welsh is recovering after minor surgery and Max Ram is out for a while. Danny Devine is not 100% and needs to be used sparingly at the moment. Apart from that, we are good to go with youngsters, fresh faces and Aaron Doran.    Eric's Smokies catch-up  Departures Calum Antell, reserve keeper off to Berwick Rangers on a free: Backs Liam Henderson now at Falkirk and Chris Hamilton end of loan. In the January window last season Arbroath brought in a number of forward players in their push for the title, they have now left the club. Jack Hamilton end of loan from Livingston. Craig Wighton back at Dunfermline after loan spell. Sam Ford now plying his trade with Hume City FC in Australia, and Michael Bakare centre forward is now with Helsinki FK. A notable departure is Gavin Swankie who has retired at the age of 38 after four spells at Arbroath, his first appearance for the club back in season 2000/2001. New Arrivals Replacement reserve keeper Cammy Gill from Cowdenbeath FC. Mason Hancock a left back on loan from Aberdeen FC B. Keaghan Jacobs central midfielder on a free transfer from Livingston FC. Daniel Fosu a midfield player from an amateur team called Thatcham Town FC which is seemingly in Berkshire. Keiran Shanks from Inverurie Locos, a centre forward once an Aberdeen U18 player. Oh and Bobby Linn is still there after 9 years at the club. (some things never change) View full article

Here's one that was visiting Lewis a few years back...

I'm sure he'll get a handle on it

That was, of course, a Renault 5 GT Turbo. This one appears to have been a special edition called a "Raider", though I don't remember that. My wife was on the right side of 35 at the time - as was I - and grew wearily used to boy racers catching up, having a look, seeing "a bird!", and cranking up their souped-up Novas and Fiestas to show her what they could do I was never keen on it - never felt totally safe. Tiny wheels, little suspension, low down - I always felt I was sitting on an uncontrollable rocket-powered rollerskate. Turbo lag was significant - you put your foot down and then had time for a shave or a look through the newspaper, before you were suddenly kicked in the back. A magnet for criminals in the station car park, too. Someone tried to nick the stereo, but couldn't get it out and also probably realised that it was custom built for this car and would be useless elsewhere, so they left all the parts very neatly on the passenger seat. Another time we were driving to the station in the morning when suddenly there was a hideous metallic clattering from under the back of the car. The spare wheel was on a cradle under the back, which you lowered from inside the boot. Someone had cut through the cradle from the outside, nicked the spare, and then tied the cradle back up, until their knots came apart this morning and the cradle fell down to be dragged along the road. Had the usual Renault electrical problems, an over-sensitive alarm, and I remember the clutch cable failing too. Good fun, if someone else was picking up the bills!

That door is easy but is it a Mk1 or Mk2 I know the answer but will see if Mantis can find it in his I-Spy book!