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Some might say such language is all part and parcel of football culture. If so, then it needs to change. The club used to promote a "family club" image and there were announcements before games that foul and abusive language would not be tolerated. Clearly foul and abusive language is not only tolerated, it is part and parcel of the management style of the manager. As you say, abusing your staff in public is bad management. It is also in contravention of the club's own unacceptable conduct policy, although something tells me he will not be hauled over the coals for his foul mouthed behaviour.

What's your actual problem with the Supporters Trust Board that you seem to think it's ok to come on here and slate them at every turn possible and points fingers? Quite the statements given your relative new found voice on here and very little content. I would suggest that users on here who are part of the Supporters Trust are here in the same capacity as you and I, to post our feelings with like minded people and scan for fans views. Maybe instead of pointing fingers and coming across as being slightly childish, especially in matchday threads, you should contact the Trust direct and see if you can get some help or answers from them direct. Knowing that the Trust works on behalf of the fans, I am sure they'd only be too willing to assist in any way they can if you put it across in a more constructive manner to them direct.

Amid all the doom and gloom, let’s take a moment to praise Billy on scoring his 102nd goal for us and becoming our all time record goal scorer. Its a shame goals 101 and 102 came in defeats, but he continues to show his value and commitment to the club. His work rate is immense and he is a great role model for our younger players. The achievement is well deserved and I hope there are many goals in him during the rest of his time with us. Well done Billy!

Let’s give some praise to Airdrie for coming north securing three points and giving all ICT fans something to mull over. They would probably would have thought they there was a fair chance prior to arriving given the respective team situation; ie no one could argue they weren’t the more settled side at present. However ICT could also have won the game and we now have analysis of what went right/wrong. With that in mind if a player makes a glaring mistake it is usually obvious and there is no hiding place; they have to hold up their hands and accept. Then obviously rectify if possible in future games. Anyone verbally castigating them or blaming them from the coaching staff for causing a defeat will only cause further disharmony within the team. The players know if they have messed up and they will not want to let their team mates down. It’s a bit more tricky when looking at what went wrong tactically around player selection and formations; both before and during games. However if players have to hold up their hands and admit mistakes then it seems entirely reasonable that so do the coaching/management. You can learn by your mistakes after all we all make them so that’s not the issue the issue is owning them learning from them and being supported to improve. A phrase that we hear a lot is telling players to be brave on the ball ; and I would add if your brave and make a mistake don’t worry as we will support you; not castigate you. Football is after all a large part to do with confidence and momentum as we all know. Hopefully behind the scenes this culture is being fostered and the game time verbals are the cut and thrust of battle and not things that fester. After all we all want the same end result and given the season is just starting its in everyone’s interest to support each other and not play the blame game.

All I can say is What the feck

I was not present on Tuesday night but swearing at staff in some workplaces is deemed serious misconduct.

It was probably around 1122. I'd email the club but the competition ends in May '24

Looking forward to being at Clach on Saturday for some positivity and maybe a boost before travel to Dungdee on Sunday

There are some teams that would run through brick walls for their manager, that is something that is quite obvious not applicable with Dodds.

I’m always in the North Stand and will be glad to get back to my usual seat to enjoy the game without being within earshot of Mr Dodds. So much swearing at his team, is that his way to encourage? In my successful working life I was a team leader and NEVER would have shouted at one of my team - you’re a f..king amateur, which was shouted on Tuesday evening at an established team member. I cannot recall ever being advised that insulting someone, especially in public, encouraged better performance. Plenty times the f word was used towards his players. If I was in his team I would be raging - so much for being a leader - huh - Mr Dodds’ tactics are so obvious other teams know how to play against us and his lack of vocabulary only shows up his many failings.

The new NAPs season starts again on Friday 4th August and will follow the same format as before. - fixtures are posted weekly for the weekend or midweek of play - minimum of 6 fixtures required to run the week - those taking part start with 200 points, every week you 'bet' 10 points on a home, away or draw prediction from any of the fixtures posted - points are cumulative over the season and the winner is the one with the most points at the end of the season - If you miss a week you have 10 points automatically deducted - You also don't have to join right at the start, you can join after but will have 10 points deducted for every week you've missed up until then Can you complete the season or will you end up bankrupt?

BBC now have it as 1115. So it was around 1122. Well done Gringo!

Sadly I suspect that most Managers are guilty of “industrial” language. Dick Campbell and Ian McColl, for example, are probably much worse than Dodds. Players are probably used to it too, and we often hear it from players during games. However, none of that is acceptable. Kids will be hearing the language and what example does that set? Players are in their workplace and should be treated respectfully by their employer. Employers also have a duty to try to protect their employees from abuse in the workplace, both from other employees and the public. That’s why we get the announcements before games, but that’s as far as it goes. There’s a thread live here just now that is arguably abusing one of the club’s employees (Billy Billy GTF) which highlights how difficult it is for any employer to protect its workforce. However, the Management team should be required to lead by example and conduct themselves professionally at all times. Separately someone mentioned the late start of pre-season. I don’t think the club had a choice or they’d have broken the Working Time Directive. Full time employees must get 28 days paid holiday per year, normally 20 days (4 weeks) holiday plus 8 public holidays. With the final being on 3 June, the first Monday in July is really the earliest they could have the players back in training.

You're a bit high there. The 1st half was so bad that I took the opportunity to count the crowd. 971 exactly!

Only one Amateur and it’s Dodds .Way out of his depth .

... or hope !!

I do fear it's going to be a repeat of the slow, predicable uninspired football that we were subjected to last season. I said before that it was mind boggling that he was given, not earned, a two year deal, and we have the same coaching team as last season, but I'm now questioning my sanity of renewing my season ticket too early, just to continue to watch what's on offer.

I’d made the trip down from Orkney for the game tonight. I was sat beside either friends or family of Lewis and when he was injured it really was the most gutting time I’ve watched football hearing the despair from his personal supporters. I thought his studs caught the turf causing the knee to turn. He looked great in the early stages and I can only wish him a speedy recovery. All the best Lewis. I thought Shaw was really superb tonight, he lit up the wing and delivered probably 80% of crosses into a dangerous area. He had the main stand on their feet when skinning his man in a way I’ve not seen since the days of Johnny Hayes or Barry Robson and I thought he deserved to be on the winning side. With players like him we have hope of a good season. I noticed that within seconds of the first goal for us Dodds and Wilson pulled Samuels to come on for Longstaff which was clearly a pre planned move. It was the wrong move, despite him looking a bit tired. Why change it after coming back from two down? Nuts. The root cause of the successful Airdrie attack was a severe lack of protection from the midfield to our defence, the 4-4-2 formation left us wide open I felt. Dodds stuck with the formation for most of the game and the like-for-like changes just serve to make sure the fresh players beat the men that the subbed didn’t…it doesn’t address the strategical issue that was plain to see. I couldn’t fault the players, it was the way they were played.

I didn’t hear the crowd being announced last night. It was hard to tell but likely to be slightly lower than the Bonnyrigg game and Airdrie had a smaller travelling support.

Well, let’s just think about who cares or will change their opinion on what is posted on this forum. # the CEO - no chance # Chairman - nope # board members with influence - mmm (based on the last 2 seasons)? # the supported trust board - you kidding! # the season ticket holders - some I suspect but have no clout (ie unlike the top 5 teams in Scotland ). So, we can rant all we like, but it doesn’t really count for anything. The forum is just an outlet to allow ICT fans to put down the views, and for the most it does that pretty well I believe! Just enjoy the footie - who knows, we might be pleasantly surprised! bc

I really don't accept the "pre-season getting-to-know-each-other" argument. I saw the Dumbarton game because it was streamed, and at one point the commentators noted that we had six of the Cup Final team on the pitch. Most of the rest aren't newcomers either. So either we have quality players and a good game-plan, or we don't. I say we don't.

I believe that every coach in this league has got our number now, and know how we are going to play, and they counteract it, or they change tactics at half time and end up winning. Dodds seems incapable of doing this, and we know from previous seasons that he has no plan B.

Unusually I disagree with you Gringo. I think we should identify our strongest 11 on Sunday and play them. We need to be as ready as possible for the league season.

If u look back similar quotes were made in previous seasons . Dodds is one awful coach . How many would come out and say Hell yeah what a great last 2 seasons that was and reward it .Bloody awful the last 2 seasons wake up !!

What I thought was interesting last night was the difference between the two managers. The Airdrie manager stood at the edge of the allocated area and every break in play etc. he would be discussing things with his players looked like he was giving them instructions to go this way or that way etc. all in a cool calm manner. Billy and Barry for most part leaned against the wall and didn’t really interact until someone made a mistake then started shouting at them. Seemed totally opposite to each other. He clapped and shouted a bit more in second half but entirely different style of management

I can't tell you the last time that I was excited for the start of a season, pre-season should be the time where you ramp up and the suspense builds up for the new season to start but the apathy I have towards our team and more so the management team has killed my enjoyment. Billy Dodds has not and will not be the man for us and will not guide us anywhere other than down which he has already been doing. He should never have been given a new contract and the board should be ashamed of themselves. The League Cup should not be used as pre-season friendlies which I have said numerous times, for a club like us who needs as much financial income as we can get/gain, it should be treated seriously to entice fans in and try and progress as far as we can. We came back too late for pre-season and will now be chasing our tails for weeks trying to catch up with other teams in a league that is very competitive, I can't even bring myself to say that I hope no one runs away with it as even if they do we won't be in the running. I'll apologise in many months if I am wrong but we will languish in the bottom half and finish somewhere between 6-8th in the league. Too many times have I read that we were good in part for 45mins, 60mins or we tried our best or we did some things well. A match lasts 90mins and if we can't compete for the full extent of it why do we bother to give praise for some of it, over the course of a season that's a lot of minutes where we have been sub-standard or will be sub-standard. If we have any aspirations of promotion, which I seriously doubt from board level, then we can't afford to be sub-standard. Some will see this as an over the top rant about a manager that I do not like in the slightest, but I personally don't think it is. Just because he has been given a new two year contract doesn't mean I have to like it and doesn't mean I have to bow down to him, he's not immune to criticism and it's only a matter of time before we get his ridiculous after-match interviews and the blame game will begin.

Totally agree with you. The football we play under Dodds has been some of the worst for many a season. I struggle to think of any home games that got me excited last season, the cup game against Kilmarnock being the exception. The club had the perfect time to change the coaching team, with Dodds contract having run down, but to award him with a two year deal is mind boggling. So, if things aren't going well this season, we are stuck with him for two years, or maybe more, if the club award him another contract!

All three goals came from us giving the ball away in our own half. Really poor. I hope that this is just the pre-season affect.

People are calling for the managers head after the dismal last 4 seasons ! Getting into the Scottish cup final by default is not something you reward after 4 awful seasons ? Maybe an awful lot of fans are missing something??

Whilst it was a disappointing result, I won't get to fussed about going out of the cup, given that we seem to have tried to give as many players as possible game time, in what has been almost a pre-season style campaign after a late finish to last season Sure in the end, peoples views are often affected by the result, but given many comments on this match and what I heard about the Dumbarton game, there have been enough elements to be quietly happy about, and with a bit of luck we might have picked up more points, but obviously we seem to have start slowly in the last two games, and mixing up the team for game time has obvs had a disjointing affect. Absolutely no point in people calling for Dodds head after two poor games, given his record here and him just signing a new contract. Likewise Defence obviously needs to sharpen its game, but Devine, Duffy and Delaney have all been strong performers [if not consistent enough]. the Nicholson injury sounds a blow, but other youngsters look promising, and the new boys all look useful I did wonder if Airdrieonians would be this years Queens Park given two strong seasons in the League below..I will find out more at the end of August went I pop up there for the away league fixture.

I think we need a reality check. Our players returned for pre season about two weeks after all the other teams. We only had two friendlies against low level teams. The fact that we’ve struggled in the group should not be a surprise. As is said above, we have rotated players and treated the games as pre season. The time to worry is if we are struggling about five games into the new league campaign. I agree with Doofer’s Dad that the injury to Nicolson impacted our first half. The players could see how serious it was. Whether we would have avoided the mistakes is another matter. I saw enough in the first 15 and after the break to be hopeful that we can have a good campaign. We played some decent stuff and were being positive. Shaw and Longstaff are happy to take players on which creates space. Gilmour could grow into the Allardice role. Yes we have been shaky at the back but we’ve mixed the pairing up. We’ve looked best when Duffy has been playing but I’m sure Devine will come on to his game soon. I understand the negativity but feel it is far too early. Let’s see where we are in mid September. And I really hope Nicolson is not as badly injured as we fear. He’s a real prospect.

This seasons budget has already been allocated / committed. You’re no mug so I’m sure you already know that! There are a couple of players Dodds is chasing but the limit on what he can pay for them is in this budget. (Yes that means average to suspect injury prone players that other championship teams won’t go near). I’m afraid that’s where we are given the past two seasons. (I suspect it would have been a lot leaner if not for the Queens Park cup boo boo)! It doesn’t make any sense in my view to push for a replacement of the manager on the back of two poor results in the early season (3rd level) competition. This really, for the club, would always be a period for getting the team structure, play pattern, strengths and weaknesses set out and amended for the real test (the league), where the manager & coaches will be judged. (Add to that where the CEO and certain board members look in a year or so). As I mentioned we don’t have the money to dump Dodds. It just will not happen (for now), get used to it! The test for Dodds is to try and get the team results. (I don’t mention or mean quality of play, as I suspect most fans accept, the style of play - structure is already in place. Their is no other plan B). A poor winter set of results may influence my opinion and make me look a bigger mug! bc

Well I am not going overboard yet although the danger signs are looming in the not so far horizon. To me the last two games have been akin to pre season friendly experimentation. Why else rotate the keepers and make so many changes during the game?? Yet other excuses but probably acceptable are the short preparation time, letting newbies settle in, fitness improvement and seeking the preferred starting eleven and system. I would say that enuff is enuff and we have to use the Dundee game as the opening league game. I presume, given previous comments, that we are persevering with the tippy tappy, play from the back style - which I hate and worry that it is a modern trend that many teams follow. We have been lacking of a tall centre forward for some season but I thought that the purchasing of apparently young, pacy and skilful additions would lead to a more attack minded approach and using width and speed. The upper echelons were lucky last season and have promised much for this campaign. Their heads are already on the blocks and it is time to show us that they can change and care. And quickly!!

Getting mixed messages here. Are you a fan of Billy Dodds or not?

Surely now? Too many have stayed silent for too long, but now? Please **** off from my club and just when you think that you have ****** off enough, **** off some more!

Heard it in the north stand at the end of last season. Some idiot got ejected at half time for trying to bully our own support a fair few roasters in our support these days.

Airdrie will be this years Hamilton

The club are hardly going to sack him weeks into a 2 year deal, the season hasn't even started yet. On paper we have a squad capable of challenging for the league

Having watched the Youtube "highlights" I'm not sure what's more embarrassing, our defending or the quality of the footage. Seemingly shot on a 1970s Super 8 camera.

Maybe the head of the Supporters Trust Board can submit it in an email to the SLO! - Oh I forgot, no one in the STB looks at the forum, (makes you wonder why their there), and the ICT suggestion box disappeared years ago! bc