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I think most of us can remember Terry Butcher waxing lyrical about how much he enjoyed staying in the area and how welcoming the area was. We need employees with a passion for the area who are prepared to sell it to others. Yes undoubtedly a different financial era and some players will not be interested for various differing reasons but we move on and try and convince others. If those promoting a workplace have no real enthusiasm for the area then we have even less chance of attracting players. And yes lots of the players of the Butcher era were from the English lower leagues but they based themselves here and showed pride and passion for the jersey. They became part of the community and were open and positive when meeting people at the shops, on the golf course, in their everyday lives. We all understand that it’s a different financial and football baseline from which we are working now. However we must build from the same foundations…passionate and committed individuals building from within a community, a team and a club. We seem to have lost this.

You just don't get it! Last season we had a squad which was good enough to gain promotion back to the championship. We were very unlucky to be relegated in such a tight division. Despite a lot of injury problems we were a penalty miss away from 5th and in reality, had a squad that was good enough to challenge for promotion. We might have done so with a better manager. The powers that be on the Board were negotiating this absurd scheme whilst we were in the Championship and not expecting to be relegated. They, presumably, expect this scheme to produce a squad which will put us back in the Premiership. Anything except promotion straight back to the Championship will therefore represent an absolute failure for the scheme. But do you really think the scheme will allow for recruitment of players that will take us back to the Championship, let alone to the Premiership? As previously explained, the scheme makes it far more difficult for any player who actually lives in Inverness or would be happy to come and live in this wonderful part of the country for a year or two. The only players for whom this scheme will be attractive are players living within easy commuting distance of Kelty. These players will also be within easy communing distance of numerous other clubs looking to recruit. So tell me, what makes you think that these guys will sign up for us and a 3 hour trip up the A9 before and after matches, rather than a more local club where they are embedded in the camaraderie of the club infrastructure and the local community? Success will depend on recruiting a very significant number of such players. Logic tells us that the only players we will attract will be ones who can't get a contract with a central belt team. A team of rejects with no link to Inverness are more likely to see us relegated than promoted.

When we boil it all down to basics,most of us want a team based in Inverness, who train here,even live here and who play here. A team that can inspire young Highlanders, A team we can support through thick and thin,through success and failure,because it is our team. Where the players come from to play in our team does not matter. We don't care as long as the young boys are given an opprtunity to shine with the big boys and we have a strong successful Academy. If the big boys don't want to come,fine, we don't want them. What we want is a team with it's roots well embedded in Inverness and the surrounding area. What we don't want is a team from Fife, who call themselves ICT and pop up and grace us with their presence for a few hours every other Saturday. ICT must be a local team, engaging with the community,supporting the community,being part of the community,yes, what we want is a well run local team, deserving of our support. Locally,nationally,yes even internationally,most are totally bemused and at a loss to understand the rationale behind this decision. How much clout does Gardiner have if he can sell this idea to the board. sad to say,but it really does look like they are buttoned up the back.

Obviously won't be there, as the only plane available to me lands at Kelty International Airport too late to make the quick 140-mile trip up the A9. However, as a member of the trust, I would like to ask if we can put something to the meeting to see if we can formally ask the club to seek the resignation of our CEO. We have no power to demand it from the club, other than the power of the fan (and media and former players) reaction to this newest statement but surely that should be enough. I have heard a lot of stuff over the weekend, and added to the examples from the past, this man's position should be completely untenable. Everything he does is supposed to be for the good and benefit of ICT, and there does not seem to be anything he has ever done that falls into that category. He said this when he came into the club and that goes contrary to everything that is being said now. "My priorities are to build a strong support team to generate the income needed to field a side capable of progressing to the Premiership of the SPFL and – parallel to that work – develop a strategy for the club which will give confidence to the local and regional business community as we look to garner their support for what is, after all, their team" He has failed 100% in that self-proclaimed target. When you fail time after time, (at club after club), then your position is untenable. If the board believe his reign to be acceptable, then they too need a good shake up, which brings me to my next point. If rumours are true, there also appears to be a spot on the board available after the resignation of one board member last week. Rather than have a cronie co-opted to that position, can we publicly put it on record that we want (demand) fan representation on the board via the Trust? This has been mentioned before by the trust, but it is really important now, crucial in fact. I only have the minimum shareholding of £250 but you can most certainly have my proxy (as offered before) if this requires a vote at some emergency EGM that must surely follow soon. I am sure many other disgruntled fans would be in the same boat in supporting this and hopefully some of the larger shareholders too? Can we get some momentum rolling for this?

Article from the rag, but its managed to nail a bullseye in the dark whilst 14 pints deep https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/12751430/inverness-caley-thistle-kelty-hearts-move-bill-leckie/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ScottishSunSportTwitter&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1716757180-1

We should be training at the Highland Football Academy in Dingwall It doesn't belong to Ross County as most people think. They should have one third, ICT one third and other Highland football the remaining third.

Hi folks, I last posted years ago on a no longer existing email address but I was compelled to re-register and agree with most of the posts on this thread. The club have to be based in Inverness, there's no two ways about it. I have no confidence that this board have the interests of the club or city at heart and certainly not the fans! They need to go. We need to start again and if that's with local youngsters so be it. Thank you STFU for making me laugh though :)

Ok, I just can't hold this one back anymore. It has gnawed away at me since 2020. When the club asked about 'ideas' for fund raising or cash injection in autumn of 2019 prior to COVID, I did a little groundwork and then spoke with the chairman on WhatsApp. I put him in contact with someone over here who held very large purse strings, and moreover was interested in exploring if there could be some benefit in some form of relationship between ICT and them. Very few specifics - as that was to be discussed - but youth and young players were mentioned. (This was helped by using Ryan Christie as an example of our youth, the fact that Caley had participated in a youth tournament in Toronto many years ago, our community club identity as our ethos, and how we had ascended the leagues over the past 25 years). The only thing that had to happen to kickstart the discussion was a single phone call between the CEO and the person I had talked to. This was in October 2019. This is a small excerpt from one of the various emails I received back from him at the time: "Hi Scott, I’ve been thinking about this a lot. At this point we are not prepared to purchase a club or give cash, but we are open to taking on some of the costs in soccer operations by either covering the coaching staff and/or loaned players' salaries. It’s something we’ve been doing with <redacted> a bit this past season. So would be more cutting expenses then a cash infusion, not sure if that would work or not. Would be open to explore that if of interest to them." When I spoke with the other party, in person, in March 2020, just before COVID hit, he confirmed he had not had a call in the previous 5 months, so the organisation had moved on with other plans. So that simple phone call was never made and the opportunity to save costs, generate more ideas, have 'free' loan players (subject to clearances), and see where (if anywhere) that potential relationship would go was lost forever Now it has to be acknowledged that this is all hypothetical and the discussion may have gone precisely nowhere in the end, especially as COVID then hit, but surely it was worth a phone call to find that out? Would it have helped us out of the current predicament? possibly not, as they were not - at that time - interested in cash infusions, but who knows how any relationship would have developed over the past 5 years if that single first step had been taken... As alluded to before, and as others have said about their own experiences, it is my opinion the phone call was not made because the idea was not from a certain individual. Instead, we pin our hopes to battery farms and badly organised concerts hoping for the big prize. Are we also buying lottery tickets each week in the hope of getting 6 numbers? It's Bill Leckie who despite the rag, and his proclivities for St Mirren, has been a great grassroots football journalist for decades. He was the one who wrote that article from the 4-3 Livi game many years ago featuring the famous Gringos photo and describing it something along the lines of the "cherry on top of an already scrumptious cake would have been a Caley Thistle equaliser" and then contrasting it to an old firm game the day before where the ref had been hit by a coin. Great Article.

I'm gone under this regime.

It is the Board who need to take stock here. If the massive negative reaction to the Kelty project does not persuade those ICT fans on the Board to get rid of those who are bit by bit destroying this club with their repeated failures and their total disregard of the needs and views of the supporters, then there is little option. I am sure there will be protests, but I am not putting my money into the club to see it used to fund projects which further damage the club. Supporters' money will flow into the club when those who are currently destroying it are gone. If the current Board members want to save the club, they know what they have to do. They should have done it long ago. Withholding money will maybe help concentrate their minds. I'm withholding my money to save the club, not kill it.

Could we fit our entire board of directors, chairman AND CEO in his magic hat?

TBF when we won the Scottish Cup our team was (mostly) full of players from the English lower leagues and we felt connected with them. I think a bigger issue is not so much where they come from but where they are based. Many players have cited the spirit created by having the players bond when they were up in the Highlands and I think that resonated with fans as well. It made fans and players somewhat alike.

We got to the Scottish Cup Final last season. Even without stealing players from under the noses of the mighty Alloa and East Stirling. Even this season, with a manager with such a a track record of failure, we were one game away from mid-table. Yet we were still going to Kelty no matter what. All we needed was a decent manager.

I fear that the bad news/crazy plans will keep coming. The club has a massive opportunity to win the fan base back by blooding some of our homegrown players supported by some experienced players and get our identity back. I watched these young lads go toe to toe vs Hamilton on a plastic pitch and they were so unlucky to not get a better result. Robbie Thompson, Lewis Nicholson, Cammy Mackay, Adam Brooks, Lewis Hyde and Jack Walker to name a few are all good enough for our first team. However I fear our team will be full off central based players who we have no connection with.

From some of the things I'm hearing regarding assets and (change of) ownership of the fixtures and fittings I'm beginning to worry that the Kelty sh1tshow is just the tip of the iceberg... The club statement did say 'first part'

I’ll continue to go to games as I always do. The majority of my games are away so not particularly supporting the club through ticket sales anyway. I probably only make it up to Inverness 2 or 3 times a season. Having a pish manager and a bunch of journeymen is 100% less enjoyable, but staying at home and missing out is usually worse.

Funnily enough, I have erroneously just been sent a draft of a statement due to be released tomorrow. It reads as follows. Dear whoever you are, I am absolutely delighted to announce that as the next phase of our planned strategic destruction restructure of the club and in response to a projected reduction in fan numbers following our relegation, we will be mothballing the North Stand for the coming season. Current North Stand Season Ticket holders will be able to buy season tickets for the uncovered, wind battered section of the main stand. This will ensure our loyal fans will be be royally p*ssed upon throughout the coming season. You will also be delighted to know that we are bringing in stocks of ponchos for sale in the club shop. These will be available at the reduced price of £10 thanks to the generous sponsorship of Kelty FC. Yours in Togetherness Ross Morrison You heard it here first!

Sorry. Its too late. Even if this decision gets reversed tomorrow I'm probably done. Supported the club in 2 guises for a long long time and have never felt so disenfranchised from it ever. Been building up for a while now tbh with the CEO and board not giving a thought about us at all whilst gambling the clubs future. Withholding my money is the only power I have so will not be spending a penny in the near future.

£300K, if we make a ballpark estimate of £500 per month per head in shared accommodation, would represent 600 “person months” of accommodation - in other words, even if it was being paid for all 12 months, this would be enough to accommodate 50 people for a whole year. How many people require to be accommodated, given that a number of them are local? Even £200K would accommodate 33.

I think Douglas Mackenzie sums up exactly what the majority of supporters want. Anything else is a non starter and surely with the backlash from fans, former players and manager plus the press and radio commonsense must somehow filter through the brains (if indeed there are any)of the board nembers.

Thanks for sharing Scotty. Truly mindboggling that Gardiner looked this potential gift horse in the mouth. It just illustrates the jaw dropping ineptitude and narcissistic nature of our feckless CEO. If he didn't dream up the scheme then it clearly isn't worth consideration. He's demonstrated such a prodigious track record of successful money making ventures over the past five years that it would seem pointless investigating the opportunity to access the networks of others, as opposed to his own rolodex of fellow grifters, shysters and snake oil salesmen. Never in the history of mankind has there been a more terrifying example of the tail wagging the dog than the free reign this utter charlatan has been afforded by our clueless board of directors. Kelty today, Broadwood (or similar) tomorrow - mark my words. Sack the board!

There is another option Johndo. Nobody (on here anyway) seems to be considering a scenario where it all works out. There is a good chance that with our new pool of player recruitment, we gain promotion in the same season where we also win the battery farm appeal. Credit will then be due. So, as I have said previously, let’s give this plan a chance and for goodness sake let’s WELCOME the new players and give them our backing!

Things are getting worse I will have to get a motorbike now

Out of interest, have you seen the Articles of Association and Memorandum of Agreement that categorically states '..set up WHOLLY to benefit ICT FC ..' After the Council rejected the Planning Application, as you state, Companies House indicate that at least 25% of shares were then allocated each to Cameron, Munro and Morrison. However, the planning application made it clear 'For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club (ICT) is the applicant, owns the land and is the sole shareholder of ICT Battery Storage Ltd. ICTFC has been a member of the Scottish Professional Football League for some 29 years. The Club was founded in 1994 with the merger of Thistle FC and Caledonian FC, each over a century old. This demonstrates in part the importance of the club to the City and fan base.' The shareholder is a corporate body based on that statement. However, three Directors now have significant control. When the Company was set up the football club was the sole shareholder : Initial Shareholdings Name: INVERNESS THISTLE AND CALEDONIAN F.C. LIMITED Address CALEDONIAN STADIUM STADIUM ROAD INVERNESS SCOTLAND IV1 1FF Class of Shares: ORDINARY Number of shares: 1 Currency: GBP Nominal value of each share: 1 Amount unpaid: 0 Amount paid: 1 However, after the failure at the Council meeting things changed on the 27th March 2024 with Companies House indicating (for all three Directors)

More bad news should not come as a surprise to anyone, let’s be real. We were in a pretty dire financial predicament, seemingly trying to stave off administration, and then we got relegated which has made it an awful lot worse.

BACK THE TEAM SACK THE REGIME

What a mess. our club ripped to shreds don't think the turnstiles will be needed any more.zero ST holders the board have obviously no respect for the fans TOTAL DISGRACE

Strange times indeed when I find myself gushing about an article in that publication, but it’s absolutely spot on. Even down to the final paragraph in which it invokes hypocrisy to attempt to shame Duncan Ferguson into rethinking his actions. The article can only help. Hoping the ridicule and backlash will start snowballing now to national or even global proportions and consign this ridiculous idea to being talked about in the history of bad ideas cooked up by out of touch money men in suits.

Robbo thinks it's a mistake too: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/inverness-caledonian-thistle/6482077/former-caley-thistle-boss-fears-club-risks-severing-links-with-the-local-community/

No it is not much further than Fort George and nothing like moving to Kelty and paying money to another team in the same league.

Even Roy McGregor over the bridge is having a go at the absurd decision to train in fife. No longer can ICT be considered a community club. All this in our 30th anniversary year. Dark days indeed. .

I haven’t been to a home game since before the start of the Covid pandemic and only a handful away, the expense of the 1100 mile round trip is just too much for me these days. Consequently, I feel it’s not for me to have an opinion in the same way as a regular ST holder and not eligible to cast a vote in the poll. However, if I were a ST holder I wouldn’t renew my season ticket, I’d be boycotting home games until this toxic regime is gone. I feel strongly that this is the only form of direct action that will have any impact on this board, all they seem to care about is the money. Yes, it is a risk denying the club that income stream but we have to face facts, SG and his mates are killing our club anyway, it’s death by a thousand cuts. And let’s face it, if this plan goes ahead it wouldn’t really be our club you’d be spending your money on to go and support. They may run onto the pitch wearing ICT shirts but that’s as far as it goes, the spirit will have gone, they wouldn’t be part of the community that the club is supposed to represent. Only found out about this shambles today and still can’t believe it - all so very sad that it’s come to this, ultimately because of one man and the fools who hired him.

For all the despair I think the situation is retrievable. I think of the example of Raith Rovers, who went through completely alienating their fan base, for different reasons, a couple of years ago. They have come out of that experience far stronger as a club and have had their best season in decades, with a far more energised and engaged fan base. I’m not saying stopping this will mean we shoot back immediately but if the fans can stop it, if we can get new people involved off the pitch then we can reinvigorate the club from top to bottom. As Old Caley Girl says, the current board all seem to be about the hare-brained schemes and have forgotten about making the stadium a worthwhile place to attend.

Details about Inverness Caledonian Thistle Properties Limited are here https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC212228 The last balance sheet is dated 31 December 2022 and shows a net liability position of £4.2m. In terms of a going concern, this was based on support from shareholders.

I think the next horse on the horizon looks rather pale. I wonder who's riding it.

Without the fans, there is no point to a football club. If the club's obliviousness to the views of the fans continues, then I won't be attending home games next season. I'm still holding out for a change of heart re- the Kelty thing though.

As @Fraz mentions TWS chaps dropped a new pod overnight. Links in the embedded Tweet below

The winner for this season voted for by you is our very own local player Cameron Harper. Will that ever happen again I wonder? Cameron has had a steady season picking up points throughout only winning it by a large amount of votes in May right down to the last game. He had 43 appearances this season scoring 3 goals against Arbroath, Queens Park and Morton picking up two yellow cards in the season, a good all round player. Where will he be next season we don't know? I would like him to sign on again but think he will move on and deserves a chance to prove himself at a higher level. Player of the Year Winner with 69 points is Cameron Harper Second with 68 points Alex Samuel Third with 58 points Cameron Kerr Fourth with 53 points Billy Mckay Fifth with 51 points Max Anderson Sixth with 50 points Nathan Shaw Monthly Winners July Nathan Shaw August Keith Bray September Morgan Boyes October Nikola Ujdur November David Wotherspoon December Billy Mckay January Alex Samuel February Alex Samuel March Cameron Kerr April Alex Samuel May Cameron Harper Well done Cameron and all the best for the future where ever you are playing football. Thank you again for all your votes throughout the season View full article

Surely not, even in the division two and three days we had the run of behind the goal. although it clearly won’t be needed as the majority of our fans will be leaving us all together.

What is the big issue with being able to sustain a youth set up? Is there not a youth league for all the Lowland League sides and plenty other teams below our league status has this too.

To a hell of a lot of previous season ticket holders it looks increasingly likely loads will not be bothered if it’s cheaper or not . As indicated by many ( myself included ) will not be buying one to help feed Gardiners 100k ludicrous wage

I just wonder what the next bombshell will be, as the club statement on Friday started with: “As one major part of our planned strategic restructure of the club, ICTFC are delighted to announce an innovative agreement…” Anyone got thoughts as to what other hair brain ideas there may be that have not been shared with fans? Also, whilst it is unlikely there will be much take up, we must be due to get the season ticket prices and bands soon. Will prices be reduced? Will the feedback from the Supporters Trust and fans about the reintroduction of the 16-25 age band have been listened to? Or will rates be increased despite relegation? No doubt we will know by early June!

I don't think there were any monetary issues behind the move to Milton Keynes. Other than the (foreign?) owners of Wimbledon thinking that they'd make more money in MK. That led directly to the creation of AFC Wimbledon.

I'm thinking the Airdrie model might be the only option. For those not in the know, Airdrieonians went bust. Airdrie United though took over Clydebank, who also went bust in all but name. They played in essentially the same kit with several of the same players, manager and even the same ground. Not so long after, they were even able to acquire the Airdrieonians name which they now play under. Wimbledon did something similar when they became MK Dons. What other solution is there? I'm not sure I care if one of the Kelty sides win. I feel such a disconnect, I'm not sure if I support ICT or if I only used to in some past life. I doubt too many Wimbledon fans care about MK Dons' results.

There's a risk there won't be a club left. It won't be the fault of the supporters though. There have been chants of "Gardiner GTF" for weeks but he doesn't care he believes he knows best. The club have shown for years that they don't care what the fans think or listen to a word the fans say. Why would they suddenly change that now?

I think the 3 main sources of funds in recent years have been season tickets, prize money and Ross Morrison who in some seasons may well have been the largest of those. Prize money in League 1 is obviously much less than in the Championship, cup runs are unlikely too, and our benefactor seems to be turning off the tap and making the club live within its means - so I suspect that in the budget for next season, season tickets will be a much larger proportion of revenue than before. Interesting about the fan owned clubs being the only ones not loss making. Is that perhaps simply because they have no choice but to live within their means, as there is not a wealthy shareholder to bail them out if expenditure exceeds income for any reason? Totally agreed with your final para by the way.

Never thought I would say it, but I am coming round to the same point of view. My view has been that whilst I may disagree with much of what the management are doing, it is important to support our team on the park. The team on the park should be the focal point of the club, but if these awful plans get implemented, the players on the park will have very little to do with the club or the area in which it is in. They will live and train down south and be bussed to and from the stadium every 2 weeks like a bunch of mercenaries. They won't be OUR team. Why should I pay money to fund something I strongly disagree with? My season ticket money (and more) will be available to the club when those who are currently ruining the club are out of the door.

I can't remember who initially suggested it but I could also see that this a petulant slight against the Council for the Battery Farm - as a true narcissist would carry through. A contingency plan ? I now hope more than ever that the Battery Farm monies come through as that is the only way we will get rid of Gardiner. So withold the Season ticket purchases till then ? This all has the political feel of making a decision, riding the storm and hoping it will have to be accepted in the long run. Oh dear are they mistaken. And this MUST have been a board decision and wouldn't it be great to know who voted yes and no. And there must have been the threat of very serious repercussions if this was kept top secret. So we know you read this GB - so sign in and share the gossip.

Somewhat ironic that it's a local lad given today's revelations, wonder if this will happen again.

Thats parochial and insular bullshit. We have signed plenty of players from outwith the HL and local area who have done loads in the community because they have embedded themselves in the community. Carl Tremarco is a great example that jumps to mind but there are a load of others I could come up with depending on what you class as being "embedded in the community". Carl went on to stay in the local area long after his ICT days were over and them being over was a decision made for him not by him. You can represent the city and be present and active in the community even if you come from somewhere else, and even if you go somewhere else after your ICT career is over. Where you come from is irrelevant. Wanting to play for ICT, who are based in Inverness, Scotland, is the minimum requirement. I would agree however that the club has become less "community" focused over the last 5 years. Prior to COVID it was all about #TogetherNESS and working together to try and make sure the club could function properly. Fast forward 5 years, and after one commercial disaster after another and dragging the club name through the mud with the battery farm, we get a statement 3 days after relegation asking for "UNITY" then another statement today that completes rips out any semblance of COMM-UNITY from our club. There is no unity without comm-unity. Moving training to Fife because it will make recruitment of players - who do not want to move to Inverness - will, in my opinion, have a far greater long-term impact on us than relegation. I actually just 'liked' a tweet by "Jailender" calling County the only team in the Highlands. I liked it, not because I will change loyalties, but because, right now, he is correct. We cant let this happen. Central to our success over the years has always been community and a sense of team spirit fostered by our distance from the central belt, which even led to the use of a bunch of hashtags a few years ago like #TogetherNESS . The current regime seem to be trying to reverse all that progress at an astonishingly rapid pace and for many fans, any move outside of Inverness, even for training, will be seen as the final straw.