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There were shots from both Bray and Longstaff and Mckay had more than one in the first half from memory. I get that some people have made their minds up on Ferguson and want him gone and I'm no fan of his either. However today wasn't nearly as bad as comments from some are suggesting. Keep it real.

I really want it to work out for Big Dunc here. I just wish we showed more urgency and desire from the off. The slow passing just kills any momentum and atmosphere in the ground. Yes we were better in the second half but we were playing against ten men so of course we should have been. We can't be unlucky or unfortunate every week. We need to start converting draws into wins or we are going to quickly find ourselves in another relegation battle this season in my opinion. Our next two games are against the top two. Let's aim for six points and get some momentum going please .

Devine’s been pretty solid generally but was a doubt so maybe he’s not fully fit? I’d need to see the Montrose goal again as in real time it struck me as a poor one to concede. Other than corners, our goalie had nothing else to do. Whilst we took on a few shots, principally through MacKinnon and Longstaff, we continue to overplay things too much and pass or try to play through the defence when a shot was on. We also continue to pull everyone back at corners so we don’t have an outlet for a quick break. If we can change those habits it would help greatly. To the positives, MacKinnon continues to look a good player and he took his goal well. Longstaff was much better playing wide, whilst we improved after Strachan and MacLeod came on. We should have won, but equally could have been in trouble at a quick Montrose break where Devine tried to foul the attacker but failed to stop him, and it took a great challenge by Savage to prevent the player being in on goal. Definitely two points dropped and I hope this doesn’t become a pattern as not turning draws into wins cost us big style last season.

We're starting to get things in place finally, big home game today and the issue is now...a club statement Aye, jog on ffs.

A completely unnecessary and patronising statement from the club imho. Seems they might be worried that fans might shout abuse, perhaps towards the board? The statement says: ICTFC takes a zero-tolerance position in respect of unacceptable conduct and any behaviour that could tarnish the clubs reputation. This includes any form of abuse towards staff, visitors, players, officials and other supporters. Anyone found to be engaging in this conduct will be ejected from the stadium and may be referred to the police or arrested. The club will also issue bans to offenders. I also noted CC's comment the other day: "Watching the ill-feeling towards individuals at the end of last season, it is not good for Caley Thistle. “It is something I’ve never seen. Fans have a go at managers, myself included, after poor performances. That goes with the territory. “But not what we witnessed last year at times. Hopefully that’s dead in the water now and we can move on.” If they're referring to the chants and events witnessed on the final game last season, then I think the fans behaviour that day was entirely justified, and actually quite restrained considering the events we've had to endure on and off the field! Statements like this do nothing to entice the fans to attend. Quite the opposite in fact!

Crowd announced as 1902. Hard to judge numbers where I was sitting in north stand but main stand was fuller than I've seen it in a long time and that number seems about right. Good to see a match and half time draw sponsor. Ferguson spent the whole game encouraging the team to get forward but as said above we weren't fast enough in doing so and we need to work on our counter attacks. Also if the team have spent all their time to date playing a different way then it might time a game or two for confidence to grow with changing to a more direct approach. Great to see us taking chances from outside the area but we kept slipping back into trying to walk the ball in. Devine was off his game but I've not seen enough of him in the last 18 months to know if that was out of character. Pass marks for most of the players and the keeper looked comfortable. He also mixes it up a bit with distribution which was about the only thing I would have faulted Ridgers on. Overall I wasn't disappointed with the performance but frustrated to not have taken more advantage of them being down to 10 men.

New chairman. New CEO. New hope. Same manager…

Think this will be deserving of its own thread as details emerge of the sheer state of our finances ... but let me start controversially by saying THANK YOU to Ketan Makwana ! The utter nonsense of your 'takeover' bid, the corporate phygital gobbledygook coming out of your mouth or your linked in page, and your history at companies house woke up some of our giants of the past in Messrs. McGilvray, Sutherland and Savage. You were the straw that broke the camel's back, the final grand scheme that saw all of our CEO's cards collapse, that one domino that started the progression that will surely see more dominoes fall. I want you nowhere near our club, but you can take heart that even without buying the club with imaginary money, you may well have played a part in saving it. Clearly the reality of our situation is far worse than even the most cynical fan expected now that we have had some straight talking from Alan Savage and it all started with the idea that 77Ventures were random new owners overnight just a few weeks ago. But onto the main focus of this thread - the money, or more specifically the lack of it or of any oversight on that front. AS went in just 3 days ago and in that time he has discovered that we are not £300K adrift, that quickly ballooned to £450K then £700K and now closer to £900K. We don't have new strips FOR THE TEAM let alone the fans, because we have not paid the bills, and we apparently have a pre-order for £120K of strips sitting with Puma as part of that £900K. Given that the average cost of a strip is around £50 retail that's 2400 strips, but profits on these are decent so do we really have upwards of 3-4000 new strips waiting to be sold once we pay for them wholesale first? Not having strips for the start of the season is right up there with not having seats for the Tynecastle stands and having twice as many as we get at the stadium on a good crowd day, sitting in a container somewhere is as ludicrous as it sounds. I am sure AS will discover all sorts of 'anomalies', unexplained or lets say 'less than optimal' spending as he goes through the accounts with a fine-tooth comb, but my ire on that one is directed back at the board. How in f*** was there no oversight on this. SG did what SG was there to do. To operate as the CEO of ICTFC. The fact he seemingly did that without a shred of governance is not his fault. His performance and ability to do it correctly and economically should have been something benchmarked on a regular basis by the board. Did he have no performance reviews since 2019? If not, why not? Thats not a failing of SG, that's a failing of the board. Red flags have been around for a while. I recall the comment about Ryan Christie buying footballs for the youth team and I think that's what Charlie is referring to in today's article in the Courier which is well worth a read. The last three days with Alan Savage and now acting CEO Charlie Christie have seen more public communication from the club in 3 days than we have experienced in the last 5 years since the former CEO was put in post. https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/sport/this-club-for-far-too-long-has-been-losing-too-much-money-358498/ A few great bullets raised by Charlie: He is confident that working alongside Savage, it will lead to the club having a brighter future. The staff get frustrated too and a lot of that has been from resources. He, as academy manager, has had to do without things that were needed. The mood at the club has been great since Alan came in. Some of the staff don’t know him. He is fair, but demanding - and very professional.. He will want a paper trail for everything, as there should be. He will want more corporate governance in his time at the club and I don’t think that's much to ask. It is good for any business to have that. That’s what he’ll bring. We’re all delighted because we feel it is a step in the right direction. Watching the ill-feeling towards individuals at the end of last season, it is not good for Caley Thistle. It is something I’ve never seen. Fans have a go at managers, myself included, after poor performances. That goes with the territory. But not what we witnessed last year at times. Hopefully that’s dead in the water now and we can move on. I like the comments I have heard that some creditors are already paid, and the things Charlie mentions in that article. I especially like the comment that the mood at the club has improved. there are many hard-working and crucial folks down there doing thankless tasks who do not need to be micro managed and for them to finally be able to exhale and maybe show what they are capable of is a relief. We do have to get back to basics, we do have to stop all the pie-in-the-sky bullshit and the loss of money hand-over-fist. We do have to put football first and try to get out of this league and back up to the Championship and hopefully over time, the Premiership. One step at a time, one obstacle at a time, and all in a sustainable or responsible manner. With Charlie and Alan Savage at the helm now, I think this is a good start to the process but let's not stop looking inwards. The CEO was allowed to do what he did for many years, and those who allowed that, or didn't bother to look at what he was doing also need to take accountability for that.

I thought the Montrose goal was well constructed with good penetrating passing before their centre forward Hester cut past Devine and slammed the ball past Dibaga. Faults with Devine allowing Hester to get past him to easily and Dibaga should have also have done better (all be it he had next to no shot to deal with earlier). I thought the team were miles sharper in the second half and on another day we could have won the game. Whatever was said at half time the difference was there to see by everyone. Progress in my mind. Just a case of taking the good points from the match and develop them to apply throughout the 90 mins. Good to see and hear the fans engaged again with the team and club. Came away more please than disappointed bc

Can’t fault the team for effort, but tactically we are going to struggle under Ferguson. So pedestrian in the transition from defence to attack, allowing Montrose to organise themselves adequately prior to us finally getting into their final third. After sending off, we kept a back four against their one striker, and never once considered changing shape to really go for it. Had a fair few efforts on goal (especially from outside the box) but we didn’t carve them open nearly often enough. A disappointing draw in the end

Ayr United issued this yesterday: Friday 16 August 2024 Club Statement The club can confirm that an individual involved in the activation of pyrotechnic devices at last Friday’s match has been banned from Somerset Park for a period of time. This time period will reduce if the individual engages with club officials to discuss how this behaviour is impacting fellow suppprters. Ayr United cannot condone the behaviour of a minority of supporters on Friday, which caused serious safety implications for fellow fans in the Somerset Road End.

Anyhoo it's looking lke a lovely day for the game. I've not witnessed much duncball firsthand and hoping for a more attack minded approach to the game. He needs to let the players on the park show some of the fight we're seeing off of it. My biggest wish is to see Billy being played in a proper forward position and banging in a 300 game celebratory hat trick.

We have some good players in this squad. Was particularly impressed with Bray and Mackinnon today. I thought Savage was outstanding. And Longstaff looked much more effective playing wide. If only we had a competent manager we could canter this league!

Shame about a very small minority in the North Stand at full time giving it the big I am, directing a tirade of unacceptable abuse at the full time whistle. I won't be taking my 8 year old back till this type of behaviour is addressed by the club, never mind pyros these are an embarrasment to themselves and their parents and they ain't kids. If it was a choice of keeping Ferguson as manager for the season or being in earshot of their cretinous shouting I'm firmly in the Fergie camp. I now want him to succeed to shut these up.

Should we happy that our full time team managed to prize a 1-1 draw away from the plucky part timers of Montrose?(who played with 10 for 45 mins) This was reality. Will do nothing with Ferguson at the helm.

FFS we had an extra man for the whole second half against a part time team, who if it wasn't for Remy Savage would have stolen all 3 points.

Martin Mackinnon on the bench. Emergency loan from Clach. Assume Newman is injured.

Another feature of what’s happened this week is that ICT can return to being a football club as opposed to some kind of vehicle for land speculation.

If you aren't behaving like a **** then it's an absolute irrelevance and doesn't change anything for your day out experience.

These exact same comments were being made by fans when Gardiner was appointed. Excuses abound for the little things because he was just in the door, needed time etc. That turned into bigger things and it all got us to where we are now. Don't get me wrong I think Savage and Christie are a million miles from that and I don't expect there won't be blips. But if we sit silent and don't express concerns when we have them then the club can't review what they do.

So what’s updated that I could do last season but can’t do this season? I’m confused.

If we have to take the large order of strips, then couldn't we find some clever strategies for shifting them. I don't know what the mark up is on a football top but if we were able to see regular offers on items such as Buy One Get One Half Price - say a home and an away top, giving away a free scarf with each top purchased, spend £50 quid and get £5 off, £100 quid and get a tenner off etc. If these offers were for one week only, or for first 50 customers, then people would have to commit that week if they wanted it and it would get people into the shop (where they might spend more money). A pop up shop (manned by ST volunteers perhaps) in town or up at big Tesco is another idea with Christmas coming. Wouldn't it be great to see people all over town with ICT shirts on like in 2015.

Gardiner has gone thankfully but our club still have to conform to the rules and regulations, it is a warning to the few dafties who might want to bring in flares or smoke bombs which is wise to do so as they could end up with a criminal offence which is not good for anyone. I have bought my season ticket this week and will be right behind the players mostly our young guys on the pitch hoping for our first home win of the season

Come at me all you like because I have a feeling this opinion may not be a sentiment held by everyone. Of course this statement was necessary fgs, we don't want or need fans that are disruptive/drunk etc and just go to cause trouble, you do realise that families attend matches so I'm fairly certain that parents don't want their kids hearing abuse etc heard at the stadium when they are there to enjoy a game of football!! I'm not a parent but I for one certainly WOULD NOT want my children hearing abuse or seeing fellow fans being disruptive if I ever became a parent! Now I know that every club has "these types of fans", there's no getting away from that but what I don't want is our club's reputation getting tarnished by idiots that just go to matches to cause trouble. Again, I know that the vast majority of our fans are genuinely good people that go just for the football and to meet up with friends etc, I get that players/management can maybe come under scrutiny from fans and the players may even get booed off at the end, that's part and parcel of being a football fan. I've said this on many occasions but I really do want to go back to the stadium on a matchday one day in the future but that's currently not achievable at the minute due to work commitments, I really enjoyed when I went to the matches back in the day when we were in the Premiership and even in the championship under Oor Tel and I can honestly say that the atmosphere was really good.

There are ways and means of communicating these things. I understand that there may be some concerns that fans may get a little overly excited given the feeling of relief that exists now and the club might want to ensure it doesn't get ott and people get carried away but just say that. That statement reeks of the gardiner pish that we've all had enough of and thought was behind us.

Rather embarrassing and unnecessary statement from the club. Does this mean no songs are to be sung regarding the board or our manager.

https://ictfc.com/safety-message-to-supporters-and-other-stadium-users/ 'ICTFC takes a zero-tolerance position in respect of unacceptable conduct and any behaviour that could tarnish the clubs reputation' Even at this stage I don't think the club are in any position to be warning fans about tarnishing the clubs reputation. Pots and kettles. Was any of this statement really needed?

Scott Young approached Laura Grant, one of our Board members, this afternoon to see if the Supporters Trust could provide volunteers to allow the Sports Bar to be open tomorrow. Laura was delighted to assist and has found volunteers which means that the Sports Bar will now be open from 1 pm tomorrow, with last orders at 2.30 pm and the bar fully closed at 2.45 pm. This is an early example of how beneficial volunteer fans can be to the club, and we hope that many fans attending the game tomorrow will now be able to enjoy a pre-match drink (or two) in the Sports Bar, providing the club with additional income. A number of the Trust Board members will be there, both behind the bar and as customers, so please say hello to them.

I was replying to the get real part of your quote. answer my question, are you happy with a point today? Ferguson is manager by default because we can’t afford to pay him off. Added to my earlier points, everyone back at corners, especially when we had a man extra, would love to know the thinking behind that. Good opportunity to spring a counter one would think. fwiw, this is not exaggerating anything, these are the facts as they occurred today. He was a big part of what got us relegated, spent what little money we had this year on a below average left back (and his own son) while alienating our better youth players. The list is endless.

Glorious scenes at full time with Big Dunce on the pitch celebrating a 1-1 draw against 10 men. What a f@d !

It’s absolutely meaningless and a hollow sound bite. The club’s security is a laughing joke!

I didn't mean literally burn them more that trying to punt them on the cheap might be false economy and a kick in the teeth to everyone who's pre ordered at full price. At least there should be no excuse for player sponsors not getting a shirt at the end of the season.

Developing land around the stadium isn't a bad idea it just needs to be done separately from running the club and not spending any income until it arrives in the bank.

I see where you are coming from, but personally I don't tend to look at the sponsor, more the club badge when looking at shirts on people in the street. If they proved to be very unpopular they could be donated to charity for use in countries where the logo is the least of their worries.

Yes it was. All 42 clubs in Scotland will be applying the guidance, Not just our club. gardiner gone, Morrison gone, a white knight on a white horse has rode into the stadium to save the day. Rejoice on that news. Give the club bashing a break. our safety officer would be obliged to relate the message to the fans. The SPFL has published its updated and newly approved League-wide guidance on “Unacceptable Conduct”, which applies to all 42 member clubs and is effective immediately. The updated guidance sets out what is expected of the home club for any SPFL match at its stadium. It also describes what is expected from both home and away clubs with regard to the identification of supporters who misbehave and that proportionate disciplinary measures should be taken against any engaging in Unacceptable Conduct. There is also new guidance on club communications such as Unacceptable Conduct statements, as well as on ticketing information and pre-match information sharing, while all supporters attending SPFL matches should adhere to the ‘Fans’ Charter’ published by the Scottish FA.

I've not suggested the club don't conform to rules but I do find the wording of the statement very confrontational. "Come along and enjoy the game. Make lots of noise to support the team but please don't bring pyro and keep the stadium rules in mind. A link to the rules can be found here" Something of that ilk in the matchday info page is all that's needed at this point. I will also be there tomorrow. Glad to be back cheering on the team in person and happy to be making a financial contribution again.

Are you sure Yngwie, Sometimes you reap what you sow. Looks like the supporters were vocal for them to throw money at the team to reach the promised land of the Scottish premiership as we may have done since relegation to the championship. German football investment group Fussball GmbH has put Dunfermline Athletic up for sale, citing supporter negativity following a poor start to the season and a perceived lack of summer signings. we have felt for a while now, probably since the middle of last season, that long-term planning and putting in place the building blocks for future success is not what many are looking for,” the statement added. “Many seem to prefer an investor who has deep pockets to throw at the first team and try for the best over and over again each season. “We said from the start that we are not this kind of investor and therefore have detected an increasing disappointment in our approach.” Supporters EH….

Hopefully reality will set in for Dunc as well ... He was a battler as a player now it is time to be the same as a manager (just in a less physical way). You are getting no money, Charlie already told you that, no pie-in-the-sky schemes to bring fans to the stadium on a monorail instead of a bus, no phygital new owners in the foreseeable future, and nothing but scrutiny, penny pinching, and trying to get the best out of your young (and capable) players. Players that need to be nurtured, coached, and supported by you, and by us, even when things don't go right. Big Dunc's new era can start this week ... if he wants to, and if he can swallow his pride and realise he has to get on with it with the lads he has, and with the realisation that he has to use tactics and style of play they can handle. If he can make that change, while everything else at the club is also changing, then perhaps a line can be drawn in the sand where we all move forwards, onwards and upwards for ICTFC, all pulling in the right direction. Or it can all go to shit, and we can be subject to the same dross as before where ultimately Big Dunc will lose all credibility and future career as a manager...

And mine too, most of the time. I'm actually a member. But I was quite alarmed by the enthusiasm with which they welcomed the Seventy7 thing, whilst most of us were VERY cautious! They certainly did not reflect my feelings on that occasion.

Savage summed it up in two words, profit / loss. Basic financial housekeeping , oh and what bills are outstanding... Not rocket science.

I’ve said it before, but the Board seems to lack anyone of a finance/accounting background. Someone with those skills would be better placed to scrutinise the numbers, know what questions to ask of the CEO and insist on what financial information should be provided regularly.

They certainly reflect my feelings! And I know a lot of other people feel the same!!!

I understand the argument and case for the ST presented. Fair enough they duly represent the fans as the recognised artery between the club and fans. I personally don’t have any issues with this line, ‘It’s good to talk’ so the saying goes. It’s clear the ST also have to balance any communication in such a manner that doesn’t jeopardise that relationship. My own view for what it’s worth (none ST member), is that the Trust, in the short period I have observed, and I say it with due respect and no malice intended, have been too compliant and reactive to the debacle we have witnessed over the past two years. I have went on the record to say I believe without the ST ‘Kelty’ just may have happened. That said the ST were not the leading force behind the ‘revolt’. It was the fans that was the energy behind any action. The ST in my view only acted when faced with overwhelming pressure from the fans. Ie Boycott, season tickets, protest!! In regards the S7V and Ketan Kahwana takeover bid the ST (again in my view), were too eager to be seen to endorse this bid without offering any serious consideration to whether S7V was in any way a fit and appropriate company to take over the club. I would argue without (I exclude myself here ), some serious and knowledgeable people on this forum (probably most if not all ST members) the case and momentum for A Savage to get involved to stop the S7V takeover may not have happened. So my argument (all along) is I believe the ST should be more vocal in representing all the fans views and not just a select group of comrade individuals. For the immediate future it looks like the club is saved from a deeper hole that it would have been if S7V had succeeded. That said for every Alan Savage out there, their is a Ketan Kahwana. It can happen again! I will resist the invitation to sign up to join the ST, not that don’t think it’s a good organisation for fans to be and express their views, I simply prefer to support the club in my own way and be free to voice or state my opinion without any constraints. I close by wishing the ST well in future. bc

The club officials would have had to have been idiots to have been convinced by Makwana which makes me wonder if they are indeed idiots or if they were just playing for time. My money is on the latter.

I've literally been away from things for A DAY and missed the club's announcement yesterday. Very intriguing. Also, I mentioned Mr Makwana in the latest Substack post which you can head here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-147667411?source=queue

The BBC locally are following this on a minute by minute basis and are currently awaiting a statement from the club which it was understood would arrive around 2pm. The output you’ve seen above is from BBC Sport Scotland, originating from Glasgow and, as one Inverness local newspaper reporter recently observed, it perhaps has to be recognised that Caley Thistle have now fallen so low on the national pecking order that not much coverage in the national media can be expected.

Well, those who have fallen for his proposals hook, line and sinker must be looking at them with a bit of dubaiity now.

I'm more surprised that people consider reading anything 'The Sun' publish and that we are looking at leaders of any large business as being moral compasses who consider integrity & ethics above profits & portfolios.