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Just for fun 🐕 Bc

Very tight at the top of the Highland League just now with 2 points separating the top 5 teams and our nearest neighbours are up there in 5th place. In the unlikely event that they win the Highland League this season they would be eligible for the playoffs for entry to Scottish League 2. What are your thoughts on this outcome? Would you like to see Clach in League 2? I'm thinking Inverness is far too small to sustain 3 senior teams (obviously including Ross County here) and our support would be significantly diluted, so despite my soft spot for Clach, I'd rather they stayed in the Highland League. Must admit though, it would be good crack to see Clach in the Scottish League! 😂

Any vibes I get suggest they wouldn’t be interested in going up anyway.

Not anymore. Dugout.

Well it’s looking like a fairly decent season so far sitting at the top of TWO leagues 😁 Nice one chaps, keep them goals coming now 👍

I think, in general the world over, VAR has stunted referreeing standards. Refs are often reluctant to jump in with potentially controversial decisions in case they are proved wrong and knowing that VAR will help them correct it if they should have made the call but didn't. They use VAR as a type of insurance policy to make the tough decisions for them. I think there is also an element of VAR officials trying to justify their existence by making "technically correct" decisions that are a bit out of context with the actual events - they seem to bring just as much controversy as decisions made before we had VAR when people were screaming for it. The incidents at the weekend are, in my view, not all that clear cut. With the red card that was given I don't think there is any intent other than to try and control the ball, but it was reckless and no doubt bloody painful. A red was right IMO even though there was no intent. The one on the GK though was much less physical (and the player was entitled to go for the ball) but I think there was an element of him leaving his foot in purposely. Whether that intent is worthy of a red or just a yellow I'm really not sure. Clearly if you are a fan of a team involved you want it done to benefit your team. As for the penalty, I think it was harsh. He was falling and also tucked his arms in (although his elbow did appear to move a bit downwards as the ball arrived). I don't think there was really anything he could do to stop it and I'd be annoyed if a penalty was given against us for that. It could easily have ended 10v10 but then again the penalty might not have been given so I'm not sure Rangers have been too hard done by. Personally I'd amend VAR to be more like tennis and cricket where you call for it if you think a poor decision has been made against you. Give each team 2 challenges per half that the manager or captain can call on. If they are right they keep the challenge, if they're wrong they lose it. Otherwise let the game flow and referee it on the pitch.

I'm not so sure (that even if they held the correct licence and were promoted) it would have a significant impact on ICT crowds. An impact, yes, but not significant in my opinion. Those who denominate themselves as Clach fans would continue to be, as would those of a purely ICT persuasion. Those that do both would probably continue to do both, and with all teams in the SPFL fixtures would presumably be arranged so that only one Inverness team is at home on any given weekend. Where there are fans who would decide one or the other they tend, on the whole, to go to the one higher up the league.

Clach do not hold the Bronze Level Licence required to be eligible to play in the promotion play off so there would be no play off. There was no play off in 2024 when Buckie won the league as they did not have the correct level of licence. Clach have turned a corner under Gethins though, built on a strong defence that includes Mark Ridgers and Josh Meekings. The last published licence levels are here: https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/12796/190325-club-licensing-awards.pdf

BBC SportHamilton Accies: SFA 'fit and proper' ruling against Zeng...Troubled Hamilton Academical are left without a director, while a Scottish FA ruling also bans the League One club's owner from the day-to-day running of affairs.