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Palmerston Perils Only six games left to save our skins and we face a perilous trek to Dumfries to play Queen of the South in what has always been a tricky place to extricate points from. Our last visit to Palmerston saw Admin Brooks take 'revenge' on his former club as he scored twice in a 3-2 win for the hosts. We came from two nil down to level the game through Bavidge and Bray but were undone ten minutes from the end when substitute Jordan Allan scored the winner. We did avenge that a couple of weeks later with a 1-0 win in Inverness courtesy of another Alfie Bavidge goal. Unfortunately injuries have somewhat thwarted our progress up the table lately with Bavidge, Longstaff and MacLeod missing. Add red carded Remi Savage to that list as we head for Dumfries. On the plus side, Musa Dibaga is back after his squad call up for Gambia. An encouraging statement was released by the Joint Administrators this week after productive talks with interested parties appear to have ironed out some issues to enable the Admin Process to progress to a conclusion without further legal issues being raised. It is expected the process will continue through April. Read the statement in the Positive Admin Link below. STOP PRESS 28th March 2025 Minutes after publishing the Preview, Alan Savage played his opening hand with an £800K bid to buy the club. "Everyone who has an interest in Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club knows the predicament the Club is in. "With the clock ticking I thought it was the right time to bring my personal offer to the table to buy the Club out of administration. It is as follows: "I am setting up a company, let’s call it FC Inverness as a special purpose vehicle to buy the Club out of Administration for £800,000 and this offer is open until close of business 11th April 2025. "For the record: If my action prompts the acceleration of a better offer from another Buyer I will immediately step aside. My offer last August was to fund this club for 3 months until a buyer was found, this was extended to the end of the season and that still stands. But without ownership and full control I can only pay up to June’s wages if my offer is not accepted. Over to BDO. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Match/Ticket/Supporters Bus/Info Positive Admin Developments Alan's Salvage Bid ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Venue: H2H Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 23 14 3 6 40 26 +14 Away 21 8 7 6 36 25 +11 Neutral 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 44 22 10 12 76 51 +25 The away fixture at Palmerston is a lot tighter than the fixture in the Highlands where we hold a good advantage over the Doonhamers. This one is always a difficult encounter with the extra mileage adding to the misery on a poor day at the office. Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Queens 1 - 0 (H) 2 - 3 (A) 1 - 0 (H) 1 - 2 (A) 2 - 2 (H) 2 - 1 (A) 2 - 1 (H) 1 - 1 (A) 0 - 1 (H) 3 - 0 (A) Biggest away win in recent times was a 3-0 win in the Championship in 2020. Inverness deservedly opened the scoring through Kai Kennedy in the 20th minute, his first goal for the club as he cut in from the left and scored low behind Leighfield from a tight angle, the ball coming off the keepers leg. Roddy MacGregor scored a second with a tremendous finish five minutes after the break to give Inverness a cushion. Miles Storey secured the points with a vicious left footed shot into the bottom corner from fifteen yards. Great three points for Inverness and consolidation in the middle of the table. Queen of the South were the last side we played back in March before covid19 came along and changed our lives. On that occasion Inverness ran out 3-1 winners. INVERNESS CT The Season So Far D L D D W D D D L / W L D W W W L W L W W L W W L W D W / W L D Since Scott Kellacher was handed the reins in game 11, there has been a more positive approach to our matches which has resulted in improved performances and a more enjoyable matchday experience all round. Alas we were brought back to earth with a disappointing result in our last game of 2024, a crushing 1-4 defeat at home to Cove Rangers. We'll have to put that one down to a bad day at the office. However, we bounced back in our first game of the second half of the season in the six pointer against Dumbarton with a hard fought 2-0 win. That win over Dumbarton was a vital one and the introduction of Alfie Bavidge was a welcome one as he opened the scoring early in the first half. Charlie Gilmour slotted in the clincher in the second half to give us a cushion over the Sons and to narrow the gap on Annan to seven points. We took part in the only League1 game the next weekend and came away from Annan with a resounding 3-0 win, Alfie Bavidge netting again with Keith Bray and then Billy Mckay from the spot. It was then on to Palmerston on the Tuesday night but in a five goal encounter we went down 3-2. Alfie Bavidge notched his third goal in three games and Keith Bray added a second but goals from Adam Brooks (2) and Jordan Allan kept the points in Dumfries. We bounced back with a resilient 1-2 win at Alloa in our third away game on the bounce, Dunfermline bound Keith Bray with his fourth of the season and Alfie Stewart. We got our revenge at home to QotS (1-0) with Alfie Bavidge scoring his fourth goal in five appearances. Alas it was a bridge too far at Arbroath and we went down losing three without reply. The Stenhousemuir fixture was postponed and was re-arranged for March 11th. We went to Kelty and came away with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to Alfie's 5th goal in 7 appearances. Montrose proved to be stubborn opponents and it took a superb diving header from Keith Bray to rescue a point in a rather turgid encounter after Sandilands had opened the scoring in the first half. A last gasp win at Dumbarton on the Saturday with Alfie Bavidge scoring his 6th goal in 9 games. Unfortunately Alfie was injured early on against Stenhousemuir in midweek but that didn't stop us running up a 4-1 win with goals from Brannan, Gilmour, Bray and Allan. Annan came North on Saturday in a six-pointer and it was a disappointing defeat after Annan parked the bus after scoring in the third minute. Next up was a 1-1 draw with Alloa despite hitting the woodwork twice and missing a penalty. Scott Kellacher will be without Luis Longstaff who has a hamstring operation and missed the last four games. Kellacher said in last midweek to the press: “Alfie won’t be involved against Alloa. The scan came back a wee bit unclear so he is waiting to do another scan. “He has to rest for probably the next 10 days to see if it settles down, and then they will try to get another image of it. Then we’ll know where we go from there. “We also had two or three wee niggles which included Calum MacLeod who missed out again. With Remi Savage red-carded against Alloa, he will miss the game in Dumfries. Musa Dibaga should return after Aidan Rice filled in last week with a good performance from the young Celtic B keeper between the sticks. I presume Connal Ewan will slot in at centre back. Alas our bench has a dearth of quality which goes hand in hand with administration. Latest Updates from Scott Kellacher talking to Paul Chalk @ P&J: Inverness have had three trialists training up North this week. One goalkeeper, Yan Gromov, right back Diste Camara Sylla, and forward Malick Diakite from North West Counties League side Squires Gate. The club awaits Alfie Bavidge's second scan results. No further update on Calum MacLeod. Big Musa is back and raring to go. Pos Team Pld Gd Pts 1 Arbroath 30 17 54 2 Cove 30 18 49 3 Stenny 30 12 49 4 Alloa Ath 30 5 41 5 Queen of Sth 30 -5 39 6 Kelty Hearts 30 0 37 7 Montrose 30 -5 36 8 Inverness CT 30 4 33 9 Annan Ath 30 -25 30 10 Dumbarton 30 -21 10 LAST SIX: L W L L W D They started their last six losing 0-3 at home to Arbroath. That was reversed by a 3-0 humping of Montrose before defeat at home by Kelty (0-1) and 3-1 at Cove. They picked up a win at home to Alloa (3-2) before last weeks 0-0 draw at Dumbarton. So, mixed results for Queens since we beat them 1-0 (which was followed by a 2-1 loss at Stenhousemuir 7 games ago). Admin Brooks is their top scorer with 7 goals and former Caley Jags winger Kai Kennedy is one to watch. Here's our run-in over the (hopefully) last five games. April 2025 5th 3:00:PM Cove Rangers (A) League (League 1) - - - 12th 3:00:PM Kelty Hearts (H) League (League 1) - - - 19th 3:00:PM Stenhousemuir (A) League (League 1) - - - 26th 3:00:PM Arbroath (H) League (League 1) - - - May 2025 3rd 3:00:PM Montrose (A) League (League 1) - - -

i would have thought happily was a more appropriate word.

Given where we are, this has to be a welcome development. It does, however, as CaleyD and Charles point out, raise some significant questions, especially for those of us with little knowledge of business law. As a minor shareholder, I don't have a problem with losing my shareholding if it helps to save the club. What I don't understand is why AS feels the need to have 100% of the shares or what the mechanism would be to legally and rapidly, transfer all the shareholding to his new company. History has shown, that whenever the Board has a vote at the AGM, the vast majority go along with the Board, even though people may have reservations about what the Board is doing. Given more recent history, shareholders might not be quite so trusting in the future, but with people in charge with a better track record, the Board is still likely to get the benefit of any doubt from shareholders. If the shares are transferred from Inverness Thistle and Caledonian FC Ltd to the new company, then I am assuming that the club (Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC) and assets also transfer over. This would mean that the current company would cease to trade and the current Directors are history. If so, then it begs the question of who the Directors of the new company might be. I guess much would depend on who is prepared to put money into the club and the discussions AS will have with them and others. I am sure the Supporters Trust will be in discussion behind the scenes regarding their position. It seems to me that AS has been working well with the Trust and he has seen first hand the excellent work they have been doing for the club. There really must be a greater fan influence and input into the club going forward, and therefore I would have though AS's plans should include a stronger position for the Supporter's Trust than his proposals currently suggest. It would have been good if AS could have said that whilst Board membership will depend on how things progress, it would be his intention to have a Supporter's Trust representative on the Board.

We have e-mailed our members today with an update about the Calum Jones event at 1800 in Bar 94 on Saturday 12 April, which is open to all. A coach has kindly been donated by Stagecoach which will operate after the event to the City Centre and the Caley Club. Our update to members read: We are delighted to be hosting our first evening event in Bar 94 at 1800 on Saturday 12 April. Following the match against Kelty Hearts, ICT Supporters Trust presents live music from Calum Jones, with a unique mix of rock, folk and blues, promising heartfelt lyrics, soaring melodies, and powerful guitar driven arrangements. Full details are in the image attached, or at this link: CALUM JONES Live Music | ICT Supporters Trust Entry is by donation at the door. To help us gauge numbers, it will be helpful if you can register interest by pressing the “I’ll be there” button and completing the form. We are sure this will be a great evening with an up-and-coming local star who appeared on The Voice in 2024, and we hope to see you there. To help you make a night of it, Stagecoach have kindly donated a coach that will operate to the Bus Station and the Caley Club following the end of the show. Stagecoach have been very pleased with the usage of the matchday bus service since we relaunched and promoted it at Christmas, so they are donating this coach as a thank you to the Trust and to those who have used the enhanced bus service. It will operate free of charge to all passengers. The matchday buses will operate as normal, leaving the Bus Station at 1300 and 1415, returning from the Stadium 10 minutes after the full time whistle and at 1800. If any of your family or friends are not yet members of the Trust, please encourage them to join. Joining is easy (and only £5 or £1 for under 16s) at: https://www.ictsupporterstrust.org/join-us If you've any questions, please email us at [email protected]

I don’t think that is the case. I think FC Inverness Ltd would simply become the main or sole shareholder in IT&CFC Ltd and the latter would remain the football club business that holds the football license, leases, contracts with players/employees and so on.

P.S. brilliant preview as always.

Theoretically possible, but highly unlikely. The current Chair of the Supporters Trust is, I believe, a long time associate/friend of Alan Savage. It's possible some discussions have been had there already. Wouldn't surprise me to see a call for supporters to raise X amount of money to buy in via the 'consortium' in lieu of the voting right being given up. Something along the lines of "Raise £200k and get 15%" instead....which could then be diluted if not a fixed voting right. Those with 1000 shares or fewer (448 people) account for less than 5% of the shares. Seems a bit shortsighted, and a heck of a lot of work/hassle, to go after those, when in reality they have no direct power. Why hand all the shares to an external company? If the intention is to have shares to sell to another investor/buyer, then surely all AS needs is a shareholding equivalent to his purchase price, with all other shares available for sale? AS as the sole shareholder at that point would have full control of the board and if/when, and to who, those shares were sold...and funds would go into the club. Under his proposal he would have circa 4 Million Shares and the external company would get the proceeds from their sale. It's the only offer on the table, and one that would see the club continue (at least in the short term), but it doesn't feel like a good long term position to be in. Sadly, what it feels like is more brinkmanship.

I've not checked the company's articles of association, which may provide for a lower threshold, but the Companies Act provides that if an offer is received for a company's entire issued share capital which is acceptable to the holders of 90%, then all others can be "dragged" in the sale of the 100%. That might sweep up any shares held by those who might not be in favour. If most shares are held by a few, who are all on side, maybe it's achievable. If the company folds, of course, the shares are worth nothing - which I suppose is the "carrot" to accept transferring shares for nothing; at least we'd still get to follow our club...

Which surely cannot be done in that timescale?

Well, who'd have thought this would happen...

I wonder how much gofundme would fetch now? I didn't like the last one but happy to support AS in this one.

I predict a makeshift squad with lots of doom and gloom from social media fans before kick off. We'll then bag 2 goals in the first 15 minutes and go on to skin them by 4 goals with 4 different goal scorers. Billy Mckay to break Barry Wilson's record by scoring one from Kingussie.

I long for the moment that I can just worry about the team’s performance on the pitch rather than all the off the field soap opera. Let’s hope that the latest Administrator’s statement marks the real beginning of the path out of Admin and into a sustainable future.

Hopefully we are bought by some insane oligarch from a tinpot dictatorship who has access to infinite money because he won the Gibrovian potash wars in the 1990s.

I think the manager and team have done an incredible job in getting us into a position where we even have a fighting chance of avoiding relegation. 8th place felt like an impossibility after the points deduction and with Ferguson in charge. It doesn't feel right lumping any further expectations on top of that achievement and we're at the point where injuries and suspensions make it tough to predict based on previous form for any team. I'll predict 7th but will be delighted with 8th.

Tell you something. Never thought I would see the day when the official ICTFC would be used to take a shot at the administrators of the club. Can I throw some money in too Savage? Would love to own a bit of the club.