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We will do very well simply to to avoid relegation from League 1 this season. The important thing for the coming season is survival as a club rather than survival in league 1. What happens off the park will be more important than what happens on the park. This season needs to be about a new Board and a new administrative lead working with the supporters to develop a more sustainable business model and an operational strategy to move forward. The focus for the club for coming season must be that this time next year we can realistically look forward to the new season with optimism. On a footballing level my expectations for this season are low. It is good we still have a smattering of more experienced players but there is no getting around the fact that the bulk of the squad will be youngsters who have had very little or no experience at this level. On the plus side, it is a great opportunity for them to demonstrate that they can play at this level. Unfortunately, they are going to be asked to play in a style which is unlikely to be successful and which will be extremely boring to watch. Inevitably fans are going to be frustrated but we need to remember that the situation we are in is not the players fault. As fans we need to give these lads as much support as we can and direct our ire at those responsible for the mess we are in.

I’m OK and happy to have our young lads take a loss to a team of Brora’s standard. It’s a friendly and these games are to test out the strengths and weaknesses (which well all know). Better to do that in pre season as opposed to the league games. 1-4 is not a thumping and I expect (and hope) some lessons are learnt. Again the absence of Billy and Danny fall into this same lesson experience. There’s a good chance one or both of these two will miss games (Billy more than Danny I suspect due to his age). Better they (and DF) understand how to adjust the team formation in this case. Likewise, I really don’t care how the results in the cups go. Just learn from these games so we can take the best formation and game plans into the league matches. This coming season (on and off the park), is about survival, and whilst I have no control over the of-field antics or outcome, I backed the cause to dump Kelty and go with the young kids. I am happy to stick with this route. All strength to our team come the games that really count.

Time for Panos to get his joggers on.

How do you encourage them if you're not there? You can have all the platitudes online or in the press but without a support physically watching them play I don't suppose they will feel particularly encouraged, playing for a manager who didn't previously rate them and is just throwing them to the wolves to emphasise his point(s).

Big Dunc’s tactics are so frustrating to watch and in my opinion obviously don’t work. I lost count how many times our midfield or forwards lost the ball tonight deep in our own half, either trying to over play or pass backwards. We are so predictable and easy to play against. The alarming thing I noticed tonight was the lack of encouragement/guidance coming from the dug out. Surely the players can’t be enjoying Dunc Ball.

could it be lionel djebi zadi?

It simply means giving encouragement to the players and not blaming them for poor results regardless of whether you choose to attend games or not.

SPFL rules state:- "G57 It is the responsibility of Premiership Clubs participating in League Matches and Play- Off Matches to ensure that a chartered physiotherapist or equivalent is present throughout each such match to attend to their respective Players and, if necessary, Match Officials and it is the responsibility of each of the other Clubs participating in League Matches and Play-Off Matches to ensure that a person with an appropriate physiotherapy qualification is present throughout each such match to attend to their respective Players and, if necessary, Match Officials. G58 Only those qualified as above should treat Players and Match Officials on the field of play. G59 For all Official Matches other than League Matches and Play-Off Matches, there must, at least, be in attendance an individual with appropriate emergency aid training." So no physio required for a friendly but one will be required for league matches. It is interesting that only in the Premiership are clubs required to have a chartered (registered) physio or equivalent in attendance, but this rather begs the question of how you define what is "equivalent" to a Chartered Physiotherapist. Also, what is meant by "an appropriate physiotherapy qualification" if it doesn't require that person to be registered with the professional regulating body. Bottom line though, is that for league matches we will be required to have someone with a good bit more training that a first aider to be present.

I’d imagine Cammy Mackay enjoyed fist pumping in Fergusons direction friendly,pre season call it what you like that’s a poor result hopefully it doesn’t knock the youngster’s confidence before Saturday

Yeah, after all, we've been assured there isn't the talent in the Highland League. I think they've just got the scores back to front. That'll be it.

Never. We have Billy Mckay in our team. Don't think he's ever been relegated?

I stand corrected. Thank you.

If they had I'd imagine they'd be pretty quick to say. My guess the club isn't saying anything further so there's nothing more to comment on.

Going by the evidence and past behaviour, no. It seems he has one system he likes to play regardless of the opposition team or tactics and also regardless of players at our disposal, will persist with no plan B. However I haven't seen any preseason games other than Clach so maybe that's unfair.

Im right with you. But will Ferguson learn and adapt his system to suit the team? He’s currently playing a system he wants to play and not what suits the players at his disposal.

He's here, he's there, he's every fekkin where Djebi-Zadi It must be him then

Time for the club to cash in on all the good will they've been generating of late by giving us a list of people we can lobby on the matter.

I see that the DPEA have confirmed, as of yesterday, that all the necessary documentation for the appeal have now been lodged. A raft of additional documents have been uploaded for viewing - https://www.dpea.scotland.gov.uk/CaseDetails.aspx?id=125202

Wish we had the north of scotland cup final team of 2019, then we could have only lost 3-2.

I know it’s pre-season but that’s an embarrassing result, and worrying given the season proper starts on Saturday. How can we limit Raith to 1 then get battered by Brora?

Is there another Scottish club at any level in more of a mess than us right now?

That will no doubt be dressed up as a cost saving.

I am excited at the prospect of a cup run here. We are where we are, as they say, and this is where we are at. For the young lads in the team it is an exciting opportunity to win some silver wear and a good cup run gives everyone a boost. We were happy enough with this tournament a few years ago when we were on the way up and it would be down right rude to think we are somehow too good for it now. Bring on the cup runs - big and small

Scott Gardiner can explain the situation clearly to potential investors.

Calling for the younger local players to be given more opportunity is not the same as asking for a squad almost entirely made up from them. I get that what we have is a result of the financial situation and I accept that but it is not what fans asked for. For me it's still preferable to the Kelty nonsense. The way that this situation was put to fans and then how things developed from there means that what was happening was choices being made. It may be seen as hair splitting but choosing least worst options is not the same as asking for something. The board, chairman and ceo are responsible for putting us in this hole and they can't be allowed to pin blame for the consequences of that on the fans. It's staggering to me that some people (not aimed at you) still want to put any faith in the current leadership to navigate us out of this. It's like some perverse form of Stockholm Syndrome or something!

Lots in this category, believing we have some divine right to sit at the top table with no substantial backer and a miniscule fan base.

If we do survive, I’m fully expecting back to back relegations - don’t see any other outcome with the sorry state we find ourselves in

A heavier defeat than I expected, but look at the team we fielded.

Its true no physio or kit man

4-1...nice attacking display of football from Caley then eh Dunc. Just go.