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All opinions are valid. An echo chamber is never a good thing. If you feel the current regime are right with their stellar record of - failed concerts, failed live streaming, awful commentary on said live stream, alienating the volunteer media team, souring the relationship with the local authority, failed battery farm application, employing Robertson as a Sporting Director (we're still paying him) where he did virtually nothing, extending Dodds' contract then sacking him 6 games later, promoting Raise the Roof and then closing the stand, releasing a WATP orange strip on the 12th of July, paying Ferguson £4k a week with a past record of failure (then failed to keep us up when the manager we turned down kept his team up), failed hospitality, ignoring and alienating the Supporters Trust, damaging our reputation with local businesses, having our lowest finish in a quarter century, stopping all family activities like Christmas parties and end of season events, not having player of the year, having no openness or even basic communication... If you think after all they've achieved in the last 5 years, they're the ones who have the answers, that's your perogative.

Everyone will have their opinion but for me, the ones defending this decision have been caught hook, line and sinker. Everything that you state as a defence is a regurgitation of the board and previous managers since Foran. First they have to convince people that there's a problem, make it out worse than it is, push the agenda, repeat, repeat, repeat before convincing you that they have the answer to something that didn't need changed in the first place. It's of no coincidence to me that we have a manager with central belt historical ties, who from day one spouted about poor home form, constantly on repeat and still will, but yet never questioned. The man before also with central belt historical ties, also spouted the same lines but never questioned. Planting the seed about poor home form but clearly with an underlying meaning. We hear how difficult it is to attract players up to Inverness, have done since after Foran, on repeat, constantly, the same lines over and over. It must be Inverness! By gosh, how didn't I figure it out myself, I feel so stupid having to be told on repeat before I realised. Dwindling investment, dwindling income, disengagement with the fans, alienation of the local business community, picking fights with local government. It's always been the fault of others, make people believe it's others. Could it just simply be that those who are in positions of power and decision makers just aren't good enough? If this next ridiculous venture fails, who's fault will it be then, will they claim travelling distance is the problem? The biggest issue in everything is staring us in the face, we all know it, and it falls firmly at the hands of the board.

The club's statement says "For the avoidance of any doubt we absolutely intend to continue to develop our own homegrown Highland boys and we will take the appropriate steps to make sure that by being creative, innovative and practical, they do not miss out on the chance to have a pathway to first team football with their team." What it doesn't say is what those "appropriate steps" will be. Presumably this is because they simply don't know. The reality is pretty stark. Any young lad with the talent to break through to the level where training with the first team squad will be required to train 135 miles from their home. It is impractical for them to be travelling up and down the road every day, so what other options are there? Will they be provided with overnight accommodation for 3 or 4 nights a week? Do they move to Fife and, if so, who pays for that? Do they stay in Inverness and look to find a place at County or one of the Highland league clubs? Or do they just pack it in? The one option that is not open for them, is to continue to live at home with their families and play for the club they have grown up with and want to play for. No prizes for guessing where the most talented youngsters in the Highlands will be heading to now. What the statement doesn't say, is how long this arrangement will last. There is nothing to suggest this is a temporary arrangement and therefore we must assume the club intend this to be the permanent model for our club. So what sort of player will we attract? Rejects who want to be somewhere else would be my view. For example, imagine you had payed for Dundee Utd, live in Dundee but had been released as being not quite up to Premiership level. You get an offer from ICT and a similar one from Dunfermline, what do you do? For me it would be a no brainer. At Dunfermline you would be part of a local community with team mates who live in the area. You would regularly be in and out of the club and get to know all the folk who work behind the scenes. You would be playing in front of a decent sized crowd, You would feel much more of a part of the club. In short, you would have a sense of belonging. Sign for ICT and what do you get? Team mates who would rather be somewhere else and who will be off as soon as they get a better offer; no connection with the city where your "home" ground is; little connection with the wider club personnel; a 3 hour journey to travel to "home" games where you are playing in front of a handful of spectators. Yesterday, several former players were talking about the things that bond players together to make a good team. All of those factors will be missing. The reality will be that we will only be able to attract players who can't get a contract elsewhere. Are we really going to assemble a better team based in Kelty than we could up here? I very much doubt it. Even if we do attract a handful of good players, I doubt we will ever build a good team. I don't want to watch players who would rather be somewhere else. This may be our club, but it won't be our team.

You have absolutely no idea what community means do you? it’s not just about being in the Premier league it’s about identifying with a club through thick and thin because they are part of your community. the way this has been done is actually the main issue I have. People who have been loyal to the club, people who have developed young talent, people who have supported through the years, all just ignored and this half arsed statement comes out. No one at club knew anything about it, none of the players, none of the youth coaches. It is the worse example of business practice I have witnessed. In one fell swoop they have pissed off fans, players, coaches and it’s all based on a hope that we can get ‘better players’. Did any of Ferguson’s signings or the style of play we had to endure give any indication that this would improve. Did it hell. It was rank rotten, his signings were awful, his man management abysmal and his overall performance pathetic - he drove a wedge between so many. Between himself and Gardiner they just do not get what being a Highlander is about. It is not pandering to the south and the demands of second rate players. Have some dignity

Nobody wants this. Nobody wants Scot Gardiner at our club. I’ve had a season ticket for 30 years, I know 100s of people & faces who I’ve attended games with, had good times with, had bad times with, had pints in Inverness with, had pints away with and pints in Europe with. ICT is a part of me. All that has to end because of Scot Gardiner? Just get out of my club you absolute utter cretin.

Will the Caley Club be big enough to accommodate all who want to attend? If not, I believe there is a function room at Kelty FC which could be used.

No we can't! Why would any central belt player choose to join a club which requires players to face a 3 hour journey to play "home" games followed by a 3 hour journey back - in the middle of winter? We will only be able to attract central belt players who can't get a contract at a club which is based in the area where the ground is. And we might not be able to afford to offer them as much as we would if we were based at home. Apart from the significant loss of gate money that this absurd plan will result in, there will be significant additional costs in hiring the facilities at Kelty and in relocation and travelling costs. More importantly, this move will likely mean we can only sign central Scotland based players. Players who are currently based in Inverness won't want to move South in order to play for Inverness! The idea is preposterous. Players from elsewhere are not going to relocate to the central belt to be close to the training facilities of a club which is actually located 3 hours away. We will be a team stuffed with central belt rejects with no connection with Inverness and who will be off as soon as they get a better offer. The absurdity of this is compounded by the fact that central belt players have never featured particularly strongly in Inverness teams over the years. Dip into your copy of "Milestones and Memories" and look at the biographies of the 25 players who made the most appearances for the club up to 2019. Only 3 came to us from central belt teams (Barry Wilson, Bobby Mann and Mark Brown. Also, Mike Teasdale came to us from Dundee but he was from Elgin and wanted to play closer to home. We had 2 or 3 from Aberdeen (e.g. Dennis Wyness) but most were either local or were signed from English clubs. Other key players for us over years who didn't make the list include David Raven, Jonny Hayes, Adam Rooney and, of course, Billy Mckay, who were all signed from English clubs, and local talent in the form of Ryan Christie and Mark Ridgers. Of course "Milestones and Memories" is a great reminder of all the brilliant achievements of this club before Gardiner arrived. Top of the list has to be winning the Scottish Cup. It is worth noting that only one of the entire matchday squad (Danny Devine) joined us from a Central Belt club. Our club has never relied upon Central Belt players for its success and there is no reason why it should now. To embark on a strategy which will likely mean we can only recruit Central Belt players, and then only those who can't get a contract elsewhere, seems to me to be the height of folly.

Although the recent Kelty nonsense has deflated me further I made the decision some time ago I would not renew if Gardiner is still employed regardless of other circumstances. I won't keep giving my money while that clown is in charge and bit by bit destroying the club. Scot 'WATP' Gardiner has made it abundantly clear he has no intention of listening to or trying to connect with fans, the Supporters Trust or anyone. The only power I have is to withdraw my custom. To do otherwise in my mind is to condone the direction he (and Morrison) are taking the club. I'm a busy bloke at the weekend anyway and have plenty other things I can do. Maybe even take in a Clach game or two.

I agree with 99% of what's been said on this thread today I was a Caley supporter since 1968 when I moved into Inverness and an Inverness Caledonian Thistle supporter since the start of our great journey bringing my son along and he will be 40 this year. Fantastic times along the way with a few blips which you would expect in football but the news today just rips the heart out of the club I will not be renewing my season ticket as long as these clowns are in charge!

7 pages of comments in only 9 hours and not a match in sight! That sums up the strength of feeling over this ill thought out, insane decision. A club has to be in its community, otherwise there can be no engagement and support will wither (or whatever support is left after recent diabolical decisions and performances). I’m struggling with how this benefits the finances. Surely we’d be better to capitalise on the products of our Academy along with experienced players who are happy to be in the area? We might not bounce back right away but the passion would be restored and the fans would get behind local youngsters. This is a decision made by people who don’t understand the area we are in, and who have totally misread the mood of fans, and it is a total disgrace that everyone involved should be ashamed of. To me, this is much worse than relegation and I’d rather have seen us go to a Cove model of hybrid full and part time than this. A very sad day.

I hate to spoil your wee rant, But having a manager that can get the right players, get them playing with passion (we used to!) And using the correct tactics, This is something we don't have at the moment. Having a bus load of South based players arriving at the stadium the same time as a bus load of players from the south arriving, Then both bus loads head off down south at 6pm dies not impress me one bit.

Myself and northstandfan (Son) have discussed it and after 20 years season tickets. Merchandise. Food and drinks at every game. We’ve decided no more. We will never give the club a penny as long as the current regime is in charge. It’s only two of us bit over 20 years it’s many thousands and I’m sure I won’t be the only one.

Hiya ScoT or are you Dunc?

They will be a Fife-based team who just happen to play on a pitch in Inverness every couple of weeks.

First time I think I’ve nearly been lost for words. Sad thing is although how absolutely ludicrous this sounds it doesn’t surprise me like it has most by the sounds of it. This has taken months of organising and for this not to have been leaked speaks volumes of the internal goings on within the club and the secret meetings. This is only the start of things to come. Boycott season tickets that’s where it will hurt them the most. Free masonry at its finest Dougal

It's not just that it is an insane decision, it is the way it it has been communicated. Even if it was a very sensible decision, moving the training base to the central belt, with all the downsides that are involved, should only be done with regret. To announce the move up front with "delight" is crass, ignorant and insensitive. It is further evidence that those responsible have absolutely no concept of the community values of OUR club. This crisis has to result in change in the leadership at the club. After the relegation statement I commented that they have ripped the heart and soul out of our club. Today they have ripped the liver and spleen out too.

I would remind you that the first word of the club's name is "Inverness". I said recently that I hoped to support my home town team for years to come. This is now simply NOT MY TEAM.

I’m afraid it won’t. We are in league 1. We will not have any pull to any players - rejects from Morton or Partick. Are they seriously better than what our youth system is producing. Not a chance. Ferguson’s style was abysmal. He didn’t look at what he had - he immediately assumed we had a leaky defence without looking and then left one of our better defender sitting on his arse for months. Instead he brought in guys who were no better atall. He is clueless Cosgrove just covering it perfectly - it is a betrayal of the ethos of the game.

I have been an ICT fan since I was 7 (now 37) and I use to love being able to bump into the players in the town, down the shops (Paul Sheerin lived round the corner from me) and used to feel like I was in the presence of a celeb. Young fans now are not going to have that joy that I did and that sadden me. Having the players come round your school, take a training session of your school team was just amazing. What angered me the most with this statement was that the board were "delighted" to rip the heart and soul of OUR club and move it to Fife. They say that Inverness will always be our home - at least every other Saturday anyway. This could be the beginning of the end of my beloved ICT

Not detracting from the statement and everything surrounding it, as my brain can't process the ins-and-outs just now, but for me the rot and decline started when the club allowed people to come in with no vested interested in Inverness Caledonian Thistle as a whole. In that I mean people who had no understanding of ICT as a club before they came in, it's battles to become what it was before they came in, to understand the history, where it came from. Who had no understanding of Inverness as an area, a community, the way of life, the different pace in the Highlands and certainly no idea of how to deal with it or desire to manipulate their way of thinking. What we see now is a club who are beseiged by power brokers who have a complete central belt mentality and at the top of that are the CEO, manager and Chairman. Just look at their backgrounds and where they've come from, where their allegiances were and probably in some ways are. Taking the SG as point in case, everywhere he's been in football has turned to rat ****, no one heeded the warnings. I'm utterly dumbfounded that those in positions with money and those that claim to understand ICT as a whole and what it was supposed to stand for, are allowing the club to be ripped apart, bit by bit. I said in another thread, when I banged my head and agreed with Dougal, that the statement 3/4 days ago was only the beginning and I feared for the future. Well, I fear there's going to be more. Argue what you will about how it matters where the team trains, not everyone will agree, but what no one can surely argue with is that the team surely must be located within at least a plausible distance and catchment area of where the club is based. The statement effectively says the club doesn't give a toss where players stay and advocates for central belt living. We're not talking about any old job, sport, team sports are different. We should be championing the Highlands, it should be a place where younger players come to learn their trade, mature, learn a bit about life, get better and we sell them on. It should about attracting an older few players of quality, not interested in money, who want to play out their career because they want to play and pass on their experience to younger players. There's no coincidence that our best two managers over the last decade and a bit loved their time up here, they couldn't speak highly enough of it. Ok one got dazzled by bigger city lights, the others head got too big but deep down everytime they spoke, they championed the Highlands - I'm not sure this allows us or anyone to do that.

I want that as well, but I think I can speak for near enough everyone here in saying that we'd rather be loafing in League One with a locally focused side rather than the circus thats being ran today

How do you know what’s happening with the youth teams and the apprentices? The statement was so vague. No players, parents or indeed youth coaches knew anything about this. I believe Ryan Esson only found out on holiday. The parents of these kids who have signed apprenticeship deals know nothing. It’s the most shoddy, unprofessional operation I have ever heard of. as for arguments about the strength of the players in Highland league and our youth set up …look jus North and Brora beating Hearts not that long ago. There’s seriously good players up here and that is who ICT should be channeling their efforts into getting with the addition of some players from England/ireland - they don’t care about The central belt against the Highlands. We have flights home to most big cities. I’m sick of this pandering to the central belt nonsense. We’ve spent our (I certainly have) fighting this idea that they’re better than us. They are not.

Scot/Ross/whoever you are - read the room. I can't believe how wide of the mark you are. As fans, much as we love the team to win, it's not the be all and end all. We want a club we can be proud of, who represents both us as fans and the wider community as a whole. We want a team on the pitch who are committed to Inverness, whether that's league one or premiership. This whole situation is f*£#ed up beyond belief.

@Drake I’m really not trying to get into an argument with you. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Personally I hardly think moving to Fife to sign who? We will be still getting loanees from who knows where and playing the same crap boring football under Ferguson that we watched every week last season at home. The difference is that we will be based miles from home during the week and back here to play games. And what happens if we manage to come straight back up. Are all these superstar central belt players going to relocate. I’m sorry but this has Gardiners all over it and not for me I’m afraid to say.

I’m not sure how long CTO has been going. A very long time. Have you never felt compelled in the last 30 years to post as there has been many topics I’m sure deserving of your input. Maybe I’m just an old cynic and find it strange how you join now and basically tell us all that the club are right in everything they do

That old myth!!! Yes, the Highlands and Islands is big. Population DENSITY is small. Population is actually pretty big though, by Scottish standards - not far short of quarter of a million, and bigger than Aberdeen, or Dundee. Throw in Moray and we've got a pretty sizeable catchment area, quite capable, I would hope, of producing 11 half-decent footballers!

Let's just take stock.ICT is more that a 90 minutes every second weekclub.The club and its history are rooted in Inverness.The players,Manager and coaches are involved around the city even if it just is being visible in the area, visiting schools,clubs and other organisations.They are in and about Inverness all week.Now that they are changing their identity to Kelty Thistle,all this will be lost. For the last 20 years we managed to produce a promotion winning team.How now are we not able to do that,yes it's a bigger challenge in Div 1,but let's rise to the challenge and keep our identity with players who want to wear the Jersey,who want to reside in the area,who want to be in our community. If this was such a brilliant idea why keep it hushed up why not get a feel for what the fans think.The answer:They don't actually care what we think as we are deemed not important.We provide our cash,keep quiet,turn up and let those apparently with best knowledge ruin our club

But according to ours and Kelty's statements the plan was there even if we had stayed in the Championship. So nothing to do with being in League 1.

But they are our kids, schooled in our City and at our club. Would rather watch a poor local team than what in essence is a Fife Franchise. The other teams systems we plundered in January weren’t great and have put us where we are now.

Aye, no bother Scot.

I had wondered over the last few hours what the major shareholders thoughts were on this ludicrous situation? Surely being local people and businessmen they must be alarmed at the goings on! Somebody from Muirfield Mills ( Richard Smith) or Alan Savage, or Ian / Dougie macgillvary or David Stewart from the Caley Thistle trust has to voice their concerns!

I think if the Tories get back in on the 4th July you will be going to Rwanda

A thing we are needing is those on the board who disagree with this decision to loudly condemn this decision by speaking through the media and publicly shame those pushing it through. We need to know who the fan’s allies are on the board because the whole lot of them are in the crosshairs at the moment. If there is enough for a vote of no confidence somehow then perhaps ousting the bad eggs could be possible. Name and shame…let’s have the details. Grassa? Are you listening?

What a way to celebrate 30 years….as so many have said before this feels worse than relegation. The fact that the club seem to have given up their role as Highland ambassadors amazes me. It is now a franchise - like an American football team - hardly surprising having read Gardiner’s love of NFL when our kids were younger they had heroes to go and watch, see them in a supermarket or on the street or maybe at their school - a real life Premier league player! Now we have the prospect of battling League 1 teams trying to sign Morton or Partick Thistle rejects who will never become household names in Inverness and nor will they care. They get thumped 5-0 at home…they’re not going to see any of the fans on the street or look any of the public in the eye - they won’t give a flying f**k. what a message to our youngsters as well. For years the Academy has being trying to create players with an edge, telling them that they were just as good as the central belt players. From speaking to the parent of an u18 player who recently signed with us he is very concerned about his sons career - I’d imagine there’s a lot of the Nicolsons, Brays and Thompsons at the club who are also very worried. What a farce

Following today's announcement by the club, the Supporters Trust has released this statement tonight: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/post/ict-supporters-trust-statement-on-ictfc-decision-to-move-training-base-to-kelty We have seen the emotion this announcement has caused, and have had more than 50 new members join the Trust today alone, which reflects and vindicates our desire to speak on behalf of our members and achieve a meaningful voice of the fans in the running of our club. We are grateful for all the messages of support we have received, and for the confidence shown in us by our existing and new members. We will continue to work hard on your behalf. If you are not a member of the Trust (anyone joining now will have their membership apply until the end of July 2025) you can join using this link: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/join-us Use this link to make a subscription or donation to Stronger Together, and we would highlight again that the Trust Board will only use this to purchase shares in the club when it is has sought and received commitments from the club Board: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/stronger-together

Hi everyone, I’m Jack, I was the Kitman for Caley between 2015 and 2022. To see where this club is going just saddens me. Unfortunately I was part of the relegation from the Premiership in 2017 and was part of the sides that just couldn’t make that final hurdle to get back up for all those years (I’ve always believed that the season that was curtailed by Covid we would have got promoted through the playoffs). I feel so sorry for the members of the back room staff, who I still call friends, whose futures at the club will be in serious doubt now. I know for sure that if I was still at the club there would be no chance of me relocating to Fife. Who knows how this move to Kelty will go, I’m pretty certain having been involved in dressing rooms for over 10 years that it will be incredibly difficult to instil a strong team spirit at a training ground that to the players will feel like being a stranger in someone else’s home, 140 miles away from the city you are supposed to be representing. I loved working for Caley. I loved how relaxed it all was, how kind everyone was. It felt like a place where everyone looked out for each other. I know it’s cliche but it really did feel like a family. It was never perfect but you felt like you belonged to something that mattered. Somewhere along the line all that has been lost and that breaks my heart. I hope it all works out for the best and the club can return to something resembling an institution that Caley fans can be proud of. Unfortunately right now, I just can’t see that happening anytime soon.

My naive hope was that the backlash would go viral and force those who wield power into a shameful reversal. Realistically, they will just weather the criticism. As such I think the only way we can save our club is a complete boycott. A home crowd of zero would be send a message that could not be ignored. Could be viewed as embarrassing stuff, yes, but could also be viewed as a powerful show of solidarity.

Words fail me. We have one of the most loyal supports. A lot of us don't live in Inverness but do home and away games at considerable expense. Maybe start supporting the OF of you want a large noisy support? We are passionate about our club and are going to fight for the soul of if

Going as long as ICTFC

I'm not renewing my Season Ticket til Gardiner and the Flying Circus has left. Happy to go away games, but Clach will be getting my money for a season ticket, and ICT will be getting zilch, bar the one off where I'll pay at gate. Those muppets don't deserve a freckle from us, who've each put thousands of pounds into the club over the years, not when they fail to treat anyone with even a shred of respect.

I always find it strange that people like drake and charleyfarly or achfary appear out of nowhere to completely try and validate the clubs position new members new posts and try and tell us all that we should accept the clubs point of view Vested interest I reckon

I know I’ll be in a small minority here but I’ll support the team regardless of where their training facility is, be it Fort George, Kelty or the moon. I think it should be in Inverness but there are things that matter much more to me like seeing an ICT team playing entertaining football, showing passion and commitment, and winning matches. Training location does not determine those things. This season we had a team who did live and train in Inverness and they were pretty awful. More concerningly they offered no passion, no indication of playing for the city, the fans, or the badge, culminating in the shameful capitulation against Hamilton. Training in Inverness did not prevent that. It’s far more important for me that we have the right players and the right manager and we don’t currently have either. That for me is the biggest deterrent to going to more games. I acknowledge that I don’t live in Inverness and I understand that those who do will attach much more importance to feeling an affiliation with players who live locally. I want that too, of course, community connection is very important and something the current regime has failed miserably at. Whatever happens I am still an ICT fan and won’t stop being one just because the current custodians of the club have done something I don’t like.

How did ICT manage to get to the SPL, win the Scottish Cup and qualify for Europe? Just better managers?

Out of curiosity Dougal are you actually a season ticket holder . Strange how you always appear on this forum in times of crisis

I'm sure they/he will. They've ignored the ST at every turn including the well presented match day survey. They stopped the 'fans forum' after 3 closed sessions. They lied through their teeth to Section 94 (do they still exist?). They've had an non existent SLO for years - where is he in all this now? As soon as they were were even mildly challenging of the club they blocked TWS podcast. After the call to unity a couple of days ago this is all the more farcical. Surely the board can't be this oblivious? Gardiner is a cancer at the club and absolutely nothing will improve until he slithers away.

Oh well, perhaps I was far too generous of Morrison. Either he's drunk the Gardiner Kool-Aid or he's just plain off his nut.

Wouldn't be surprised. Young players were already told to train on their own, away from first team, by Ferguson. They were therefore becoming very disillusioned. As for this ridiculous proposal, well I'm afraid that's me done with the club. I was at the first league game in 1994 and a season ticket holder for over 20 years. I cannot realistically renew my season ticket after this.

I'm genuinely in a daze how the pillocks in charge are even remotely in a shout of a job at the club. One glance at Twitter and NONE of the tweets responding to it are positive. Absolute PR Suicide when you've fans, politicians, and ex (and presumably current) players all showing their sheer distain for the crapfest thats happened. Supporters Trust meeting will certainly be a lively event...

The majority of Scottish footballers will not seriously consider relocating to Inverness, certainly not for a mediocre salary and a 1 or 2 year deal. We are therefore fishing in a much smaller pond than our competitors, that is the sad reality.

Would have been disaapointed if he had. In all the years I’ve known Riley he’s never held back.