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Are people really applauding the supporters trust here? They refused to properly back the fans actions following the meeting. Then came out with a statement encouraging us to do the opposite and have now done a complete about turn with little to no explanation of the original position or the change. Not looking for anyone to round on them but also don't think we should be blowing smoke up their butts.

I couldn’t agree more. I found it bizarre they were so willing to back buying season tickets on assurances from a board that are clearly less than trustworthy.

I think they got hoodwinked in the same way we all have at some point. There are one or perhaps two people on the board that appear to be trying to get things done, and they (ST) wanted to believe or took a leap of faith that this would happen, and they (Board member[s]) would be true to their word. Whether the board member[s] were farting against thunder and couldn't get things done for some reason at board level, or it was all just blowing smoke at the ST, the assurances the ST got clearly didn't come to pass. I think the line in the sand for many is that the CEO needs to be gone first and foremost. We know he has resigned and is working his notice, but we have no idea what that period is and when he will leave for good. Is it a week? a month? 3 months? 6 months? Rightly or wrongly, he is clearly the largest lightning rod for criticism and the focus of all the blame. We will probably never know the full details but clearly very few people want to do anything at, or for, the club while he is still there. Personally, I am disappointed in the board also. I have never been one to jump on any #SackTheBoard type campaigns but its getting almost impossible to have any other opinion of the current incumbents of the ivory tower. With the treatment of Doran, Esson and others, as well as the complete and utter lack of any communication or apparent action coming from this board, what else are we to think? These people are elected by the shareholders, to work for the good and benefit of ICT FC. Clearly, they have not fulfilled that role on multiple levels and don't even have the balls to come out and tell it like it is, and spearhead a call to get back to basics and foster the TogetherNESS that worked well in the past. We have players not contacted since May. Even if the manager is on holiday, sipping cocktails and enjoying himself knowing his own contract was secure, then surely the Director of Football or another director should be talking to these players. More worrying is the accounts situation. I don't pretend to understand the dates and company law rules, but it is not rocket science to know they will not be good and could be triggering in terms of admin events. The manager gets lumped in with the board here. He should not have gone on holiday without letting his squad know where each and every one of them stood for next season. Some difficult conversations for sure, and maybe some wage negotiations if anyone is a relatively high earner but we want to keep them (and they want to stay) but to completely ignore the squad, is unforgiveable. It certainly seems contrary to the process we used to do as someone mentioned elsewhere in this or another thread. I get that we possibly can't afford to pay him off, and there is likely no way he will walk away as if he does, he will have yet another 'failure' on his record in club management. Best for all would be him swallowing his pride, adjusting his management style (autocrats rarely ever win in the end), and trying to do well this season. If he does well, we do well, and if he does really well, perhaps someone 'bigger' might come looking for him 🙂

I assume because the battery farm was seen as a pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow

You have to wonder then why we gave him such a chunky contract given 1) our precarious financial situation even before he arrived and; 2) his non existent to rotten record as manager.

Most of our fans sit in silence the entire match anyway at home so I don’t think they’d notice any difference. With the exception of utter outrage if the referee makes a perceived mistake or A slight cheer followed by 6 seconds of clapping if we score a goal.

Absolutely embarrassing - from all parties.

The Trust has been working hard for a number of years to establish a meaningful and constructive relationship. Such a relationship would clearly be in the best interests of the club and the community it serves. Unfortunately the club has only engaged sporadically, yet the Trust has continued to offer support and help to the club. Working together for the mutual benefit of the club and the supporters is, after all, the purpose of the Trust. As a former Trust Board member and Chair, I know how hard the Trust Board has always worked to keep lines of communication open despite all the knock backs from the club over the years. It therefore saddens me to read the latest statement from the Trust. It is clear that despite the Trust's very significant efforts in these past few weeks, the point has been reached where the Trust feels it is obliged to take radical action to shock the club's management out of its self-destructive path. This will have been a very difficult decision for the current Trust Board to have taken and I applaud them for doing so. The Trust's previous statement was very different in that it was encouraging fans to buy their season tickets and club merchandise. They will have been well aware that this was at odds to the views expressed by over 200 fans at the Caley Club a few days earlier. They felt able to give that encouragement by accepting, in good faith, assurances provided by the club which it now transpires were worthless. It is self-evident that assurances about communications have not been honoured, because there has been no communication. We don't know whether there was any truth in the club's statement about discussions with potential investors, but what we do know is that if there had been such discussions, they haven't delivered what one would expect "hugely promising discussions" to deliver. No doubt the Trust will continue to seek dialogue both with those currently in charge and with potential investors. As fans, we need to support the Trust in their continuing efforts to secure a sustainable future for the club. Potential investors need to know that the support for the club is strong but that there is no support for those currently running (ruining) the club.

It’s a classic ploy by under pressure boards to buy the compliance of fans’ groups in return for an enticing whiff of the Old Inverness and vol au vents on offer behind those boardroom doors. Invariably, too, those same doors soon slam shut, leaving the poor mugs high and dry, predictably.

The Supporters Trust has issued a fresh statement about the ongoing situation today, which is being sent to all members. You can read it on this link: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/post/statement-pre-season-2024 The Trust Board will continue to work on behalf of our members and the wider fan base, and we would welcome further members. 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 Many of you who supported our Stronger Together initiative indicated (understandably) that you would not contribute as long as the CEO was at the club. Given that the club has publicly confirmed that they have accepted his resignation, you can use the link below to contribute to this initiative, either through a subscription or by making a donation. As confirmed before, 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 on behalf of the Trust's members: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/stronger-together

I think you have cracked it Hedgehog. Scott Gardiner in goals.................he must be good at something

It will certainly need to change with no goalkeeper to pass back to.

We are delighted to announce that six players have signed deals with the club. Negotiations with a number of other players will continue this week, and next, and we hope to make further announcements in the coming days. OK, ALL TOGETHER NOW ………….. I'm on my way from misery to happiness today Ah-hah (Ah-hah), ah-hah (Ah-hah) I'm on my way from misery to happiness today Ah-hah (Ah-hah), ah-hah (Ah-hah) I'm on my way to what I want from this club And years from now we'll make it to the championship…….

Clearly - as and when we get a new board or new investors - we need someone who knows how to write contracts! Ours have been like Swiss cheese for years, stinky and full of holes!

A board member confirmed to me in the director's box after the Hamilton relegation game that Ferguson is on a six month notice period rather than the three year fixed contract he keeps referring to. I've no reason to believe the director in question was lying or unaware of the deal. Utterly inconceivable that there wasn't a clause inserted in his contract that all bets were off in the event we were relegated. Well, when I say inconceivable that's on the assumption that the guy involved in negotiating said contract on our behalf wasn't a complete moron.

Yet we appear to have enough to lavish thousands on a clueless management team and even enough to sign the gaffer's son while we're at it.

I sadly can’t disagree with this comment. The situation at the club is so embarrassing. I want to support and back the club but finding it extremely difficult to do so.

From the P&J today.

The lad probably doesn't realise what he is getting mixed up in, but shame on his father, if this is true, for bringing his son into such a toxic situation.

Such cynicism. The lad has obviously done enough in training to impress the manager. 😀

Due to the u turn by the Trust I would be worried about being one of those punters who purchased a season ticket or club merchandise after the initial meeting. Astonished that the Trust took the Boards word at that same meeting on the weak premise that communication would improve and everything will be ok. Even the press are now getting the silent treatment from the Club maybe they should attempt to contact ex players/legends/managers to get their say. I’m not going to name anyone publicly but I’m very surprised that some individuals have not said anything unless they know of something they are not willing to divulge. Dougal

I think I'll sit in the away dug out at this game. I've more right to be there than Ferguson (both of them)

Are you free on Saturday Robert?

This is copied from today’s announcement. I’ve added their position, but may not have all the youngsters correct. No goalkeeper yet. The club can confirm the following players are currently under contract for 2024/25 campaign. Keith Bray midfielder Adam Brooks striker Ethan Cairns striker Jake Davidson right back Danny Devine centre half Charlie Gilmour midfielder Cameron Ferguson striker Luis Longstaff winger Calum MacLeod midfielder Calum Mackay midfielder Billy Mckay striker Lewis Nicolson left back Sam Nixon defender Remi Savage centre half Matthew Strachan defender Robbie Thompson midfielder Nikola Ujdur centre half Jack Walker centre half

elected or co-opted is important but makes no real difference in this situation. Their purpose on being on the board, however they got there, is to work for "the good and benefit of" the club. I don't see much of that. We do seem to "re-elect" on a regular basis, its one of those things that get lumped into the AGMs (when held!) as a motion to re-elect en-masse the directors who need to stand for re-election. As there are seldom any actual elections its really just a rubber stamp to renew a term. Perhaps if the board will not co-opt a Supporters Trust member at the next AGM (if and whenever held) then we could nominate one or more people to see if that triggered actual voting!

Neither SG or DF will be at ICT in 2025. Looking forward to the bells.

Yes he has, that’s been in the public domain for weeks. Whether it was a gesture offered by him or something written into his contract in case of relegation, we don’t know. I suspect the latter. But anyway, the reason we are still paying an expensive manager whilst letting go of other staff to cut costs is because the manager has a contract whilst others are out of contract. There’s no chance we’d be sticking with Ferguson if it wasn’t so expensive to get rid of him.

Nepotism.

It does seem like a purge by CEO and manager. Cammy Mackay, Doran, Ridgers, Esson - that's a nucleus, and a lot of history and heritage gone, never mind very capable, young homegrown players let go to play at higher levels (Carlisle, Morton). Also physio and other staff too? There's no area of the club that isn't in disarray it seems.

That goes without saying, but we shouldn't underestimate the sheer ineptitude of the current board and/or advisers

Someone posted a P&J article earlier saying we are expected to bring goalkeeper Jack Newman in on loan from Dundee United. We will need another one though.

I seem to recollect that at the meeting in the Social Club, it was suggested that there were legal reasons preventing the Supporters’ Trust from publicly supporting a ban. Has the legal situation changed, then?

I really hope someone in the media doing the next interview with Duncan asks if our style of play will change next season

We can also add failing to offer Roddy MacGregror a deal likely cost the club money even if he didn't sign it as we would have received a development fee for him had he turned us down. St Mirren did similar with Jay Henderson a year or so ago.

Exciting times! Do we now have an updated squad list to have a look at. A squad depth chart by position might be handy if anyone knows their main positions.

Very much looks like forced smiles to me. Sad thing is it should be a happy day for all young lads signing up but it won’t be easy coming into such a shambolic mess on and off the park. I feel sorry for them all including young Ferguson. Dougal

Fair enough then, let’s at least have some positivity… Welcome to the Club Cameron Ferguson. I hope he proves all the doubters wrong.

Yeah, dunk on the fans. They're the ones who deserve to be criticised right now.

What a fantastic story. I didn't know Mikey well but I do recall we spent a little time time chatting in the away end at our very first fixture at Firs Park so he was there from the very beginning. Wouldn't it be fitting if the flag could be fixed permanently at the back of the North Stand as a focal point. Perhaps this was already considered but it does seem a shame such an impressive flag has lain dormant until it's recent travels.

TOXIC - Britney Spears

To directly quote a recently non retained player about Fergusons very authoritarian management style - which does not work - 'its my way or the highway.' As we now know, that is it.

Did anybody else hear Aaron Doran speaking on BBC drive time this evening about his treatment by the club? If not, it is definitely worth a listen. It was on at approximately 5:45pm. The BBC reportedly approached the club for comment but received none at the time of airing.

Also Inverness Courier !!.Well done ICT Bob you’ve done Mikey proud . Some good news with ICT connections for a change . Hope you had a Great time and got home safe .🔴🔵⚽️

It's a reasonable assumption that if there was any good news, they'd be falling over themselves to tell us. Therefore, there isn't any.

A welcome statement from the ST which sums up the sad state of affairs at our club and I for one appreciate their stance and sentiment in the statement - depressing times indeed!

We can only hope that, like with the fans, this horrendous situation is maybe cementing the bond between the players. I wouldn't blame any of them for jumping ship, but I hope they are managing to pull together and support each other. Same goes for other staff at the club.

In any normal functioning business when you have a situation where your leadership team have been removed from their roles then their access to any means of adversely affecting the running of the business are immediately terminated and they're escorted off the premises. What we have here are people (on both the business and footballing side of the organisation ) who are essentially burning the club and its reputation to the ground on their way out the door. It strikes me as wanton corporate vandalism yet our board appear to be sitting back and letting them trash 30 years of goodwill and brand reputation. Ask yourself what player in their right mind would willingly sign for us? What agent would advise his client to head North? What club would answer the phone to us if we were looking for loanees? It surely goes without saying that absolutely no good can come of a guy who's been run out of the club following an overwhelming show of fan power still pulling the strings in the boardroom - does anyone genuinely believe that he has the club's best interests at heart? Are the board really that naive? Moreover, what on earth are we thinking in leaving a clueless football management team in situ to alienate the skeleton playing squad further? There's barely a player in the Fort George 14 they didn't screw over last season and the atmosphere must be poisonous. We're an absolute bin fire and these guys are hosing petrol on the inferno. The whole sh1tshow simply beggars belief.

The young media guy Liam is controlled by what he can and can't post by SG

We’ve just got to hope that Big Dunc has realised that his tactics + game plan didn’t work and we see a change in style for league 1. We really have to be more ruthless and direct at times.