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One would expect SG to play down any financial difficulties on national radio. One also recognises that most football clubs have financial difficulties, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned about the situation with ICT. Let's just remind ourselves of what the official financial report actually stated. The accounts reported a loss before tax of £835K and net current liabilities (debt) of £1.71M which is up 70% from the previous year and from the last Covid free year in 2018/9. The accounts do not report a turnover figure, but from memory, turnover in previous years has been just a little over £2m. Whether you consider those figures as representing a crisis or not is maybe a matter of opinion, but they are certainly a significant concern. The new auditors stated they had "material concerns" about the viability of the club relying on unproven income streams and savings on operational costs. The club waited till the deadline to post the latest accounts and has had no AGM since the previous accounts were posted, also at the deadline. It is not a pretty picture. Personally I don't think the club is in immediate risk of going bust, but unless some major financial windfall comes along, it clearly needs to find someone to pump record sums of money into the club to stop the finances getting even worse than they currently are. One hopes that when the club finally has its AGM later this month, there will be a little more openness about the financial situation than we have had to date. As things stand, unless we can somehow win promotion (or the cup!) this year, cuts to the playing budget seem inevitable. If that happens, getting out of the Championship at the right end will get more and more difficult.

Neither Scot Gardiner or the current Chairman have done a single thing they said they would do since being in situ, so there's nothing to base any trust on. Plan A was the concerts. Plan B seems to be some sort of park and ride scheme using carparks the club doesn't even own, and a battery storage facility being built half way across the city which we only seem to be lending our name to, and which is already facing planning objections. I make no apology for remaining extremely sceptical.

A loss of £800k on turnover of £2m implies costs of £2.8m, a 40% loss, which would be alarming for most companies. In business that means two options, which can be taken forward jointly: 1. Increase revenue 2. Reduce costs. We look to have tried (and failed) to increase revenue (eg concerts) so we must now look at costs. This does not have to mean players and their contracts, but we need to look at all the non playing staff and see what economies are possible. Do we need a staff of 90 odd? There may be “non cash” items in the costs, for example if we are depreciating assets over a defined period, but I would not expect any such items to be substantial. The other key element is cash flow and whether it is positive, or dependent on ongoing loans from Directors. Looking forward, as well as a thorough review of all costs, we should get any realistic prospects tied up on long term contracts if possible so we maximise the chances of decent transfer income. And a win on Friday would also help immensely!

I was grateful we weren't subjected to Dodds' same old boring drivel, tbh.

There must be a watching "anorak" who could provide a comparison with other clubs. And this forum is possibly the biggest scaremonger factor in operation. I will always be concerned but my anxieties are eased slightly in the knowledge that somebody has dug us out of a financial hole on a number of previous occasions. Plus SG and peers would not have issued the statement if they did not have a Plan A or Plan B to fall back on and even provided some of the constituents. Lets face it - no matter how well we perform that promotion is the only way out of the mire.

Like I said - Bazza scares seagulls.

Yeah the Ayr setup was pretty impressive. Bar area was busy but service was quick and they had an outdoor spot with astroturf / artificial grass and a good number of picnic style benches with a van that seemed to be serving pizzas and other hot food. Would definitely go back there rather than any pubs in the town especially if you get off at Newton on Ayr.

And a 2-1 win.

RIGs report spot on as usual. Boy was it good to see a win in the league again! I'm convinced it might have been another draw if not for the sending off though as both teams looked pretty evenly matched. A small band of noisy caleyaway roared the team to victory. Ayr have a nice wee set up now with a stadium bar with a beer garden. Food available too. Was packed as well so must bring in valuable income. Still not confident re Killie though. I think like Livi I will be expecting nothing but you never know...

Again it is really satisfying to receive plaudits from those who appeared to be detractors. A bit like the team really.

Apology gratefully accepted

We lined up with what looked like a 4-2-3-1. Ridgers - Delaney Deas Devine Duffy - Welsh Allardice - Henderson Carson Shaw - Mckay. Henderson started on the left after recently featuring on the right, Carson played as a 10 instead of Shaw who was shifted to the right flank whilst Duffy and Delany were the appointed full backs. Pretty even opening to the game but we gifted Ayr the opener when Delaney failed to clear the ball and it was nabbed off him by O'Connor and he found Akinyemi free i the 6 yard area with a low cross and he easily beat Ridgers from close range. Fortunately we equalised relatively quickly as a Henderson free kick looked to be missed by the Ayr defence and the ball landed close to Welsh in the box and he spun on the spot and swept the ball into the net. The main talking point was the red card for O'Connor which Ayr are claiming was harsh but at the time I thought it was the right call. Initially I thought it was Welsh who challenged O'Connor but I see reports saying it was Duffy. Regardless, both players lunged in committed to the tackle but as O'Connor seemed to have his foot lifted slightly off the ground it meant he overshot the ball slightly and carried through into Duffy's shin which looked pretty bad. The red card was out in a couple of seconds and we had the advantage. Duffy should have put us ahead before the break when he had a free header in the box but he sent it wide of goal and he had another decent effort with a shot that was well saved by the Ayr keeper. Second half was pretty open with both sides threatening. You'd have been hard pressed to tell which side had a man less at times as Ayr looked pretty threatening at various points without forcing Ridgers into many saves. Akinyemi was a handful for Deas and Devine who struggled to deal with him at times. McAlear and Ashford had decent changes that were either wide or over the bar. At times we played some nice football. Most of the threat seemed to come down the right especially after Henderson and Shaw rotated and, with the extra man, Duffy and Delaney started pushing further up the pitch to offer support. Ayr tended not to double up on the wide men so it meant that Henderson or Shaw had to beat one many and they had a chance to get a cross in. Henderson in particular was tormenting the Ayr defence and he had the best chance for us before we scored when he wriggled through a ruck of players at the edge of the box and lashed an effort over the bar. But he goal when Shaw beat his man on the left flank and sent a high ball across goal which Henderson collected at the back post and he managed to steer a shot past the keeper and defenders on the line. Some solid performances from us to win that one today with Duffy, Carson and Henderson probably the pick of the bunch. Duffy was helped out by Mullin going off injured and also the fact that Ayr played a lot of the game a man down. Carson took a bit of time to adapt to the 10 position but he carried the ball forward well and could have had a goal himself had he been more selfish and taking a shot instead of passing to a team mate. Despite their struggles Killie will be a different beast. Today was a good win and the best performance from the last 4 games I've seen but these are pretty low bars and we will need to improve again if we want to try and get through to the SF.

That was a really important win today. As we move into the final round of matches, any lingering worries about the potential of relegation should be gone. We sit on 36 points and even were we to lose our last 9 games, 2 of the bottom 3 would need to significantly up their points per game ratio to catch us and put us in to the relegation playoff spot. The pressure is off us now. We are not expected to win our bonus cup game on Friday and nor are we expected to reach the playoffs, although both are well within our capabilities. Hopefully this will allow the team to play with a bit more freedom and produce the kind of football which the fans have only seen sporadically this season. Of course, the team needs to get the fans behind them with some good vocal support. That has been in very short supply this season, so hopefully that will change on Friday. Kilmarnock are on a poor run of form just now and their priority must be Premiership survival. It is a very winnable game with a trip to Hampden as the prize. Our season could, all of a sudden get a whole lot better.

Brilliant to get the win. I think we forget sometimes just how tight the championship is and while every win counts, a single loss can result in a tumble down the table. Personally I find the jeopardy element adds to the excitement, but I feel that some posters get too irate when we are on the losing end. There is a lot of worry off the pitch at the moment and I think that the team can benefit far more from positive comments than insults. I know I am a bit happy clappy but I think a bit of praise and confidence in our team can go a long way. Hope todays win is the start of a good run. Well done boys.

Need to sharpen up in front of goal. Chances will be at a premium on Friday, so we need young Billy to end his goal drought now...

First Draft Red Oh Daire Three points would have been a welcome diversion from off-field issues for the Caley Jags. Inverness missed Cammy Harper from last week and Austin Samuels dropped to the bench as Billy Mckay returned from suspension. Frankie Musonda was on the Ayr bench and the 15 goal striker Dipo Akinyemi led their attack with Josh Mullin and Ben Dempsey backing him up. At the end of the day it was Inverness that picked up a valuable win to climb to 6th in the table. First Half Billy Mckay was keen to get going again after his suspension and he hit one from distance in the opening moments but it went over the bar and he followed that with another that went wide after seven minutes. Ten minutes in and Sam Ashford replaced the injured Josh Mullin and two minutes later Dipo Akinyemi scored his sixteenth of the season to put United ahead. The lead lasted just seven minutes when Sean Welsh scored after a Jay Henderson cross to level the game. Charlie Albiston was quick off his line to deny the eager Mckay as he honed in on goal and five minutes later he was close to getting on the end of a Shaw cut back after Albiston made a mess of a clearance. Before the half hour Daire O'Connor was sent off for a challenge on Wallace Duffy. Duffy shot over before Mckay had an effort deflected over the bar and Duffy headed the resultant corner over as well. Just on the break the keeper saved well from a Duffy shot into the top corner just after Paddy Reading went close at the other end. Half Time: 1-1 Ayr began the second half on the front foot with McKenzie and Akinyemi shooting wide before Billy Mckay was blocked in the box at the other end and Scott Allardice fired one over. Ashford shot over on the hour after some good possession from the hosts and Duffy shot wide after finding himself in an advanced position again. More profligacy from the visitors as Henderson missed the top corner after a burst into the box. Welsh was blocked then had another effort deflected behind for a corner with twenty minutes left. The chances eventually paid off when Henderson connected with a Nathan Shaw cross at the back post to fire home. Mckay then shot wide after being played through ten minutes from the end. Inverness saw out the game to put themselves on the outer fringes of a play-off spot. Full Time 1-2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mmmm, Caley?? Being pedantic, Caley Thistle. Lol!! Listening to the report on Sportscene, the reporter felt the red card was harsh. Great to have a win at last. Now let’s sort out our home form.

well i didnt see that coming...........like i say every week

The key message from Scot Gardiner’s appearance was that times are tough financially but there is “no danger” of us going bust. He stated that he is more concerned about performances on the pitch.