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A well done to everyone at the club for a good try at that playoff system; theres a reason nobody has done it yet. Never quite worked out although St Johnstone coming out the blocks after a half time roasting ought to have been obvious. They also get their bit of luck and then chasing it too late after all the games played; players injured etc But another learning process on the journey back to premier league football. Hopefully that journey can move quicker and more purposefully. A lot will depend on squad additions. Going up not ready would just result in what has happened to Dundee. This coming season everyone throughout the club can have no illusions about what it takes. They are going in the right direction and shall overcome with good support. Hopefully they can all get away on a nice relaxing holiday somewhere and come back fired up and ready to go again.

WellI enjoyed my first season contributing to this forum and respect all other views and opinions even if I don't always agree with them. I think we all have a passion for ICT and want to see them in the Premiership. There is no doubt many mistakes were made this year in team selection at times and tactics,but we seemed to get through that period and more or less be on the same page as we came up the home straight. Mid season we all (me included) questioned the will and committment of the team and quire rightly so,but these last dozen or so games they have risen to the challenge and done themselves and the club proud so well done to the team! Finally, I always wondered if we were actually ready for the Premiership this year and going up too early would have meant a season languishing around the relegation zone again,so maybe best we try and keep building and getting stronger and then when we are ready for promotion we can do it in style. See you all next season.

If nothing else comes from the efforts of the last six games at least we will have made some decent extra cash and hopefully reignited the stay away fans.

I hope that the club offers some sort of contract to Shane, or, at the very least, makes all its resources available to him for his rehabilitation. There's a moral obligation to do so.

Congratulations to caleycallum but, even more importantly, thanks yet again to Gringo for his time and effort, a marathon effort this season, to allow us, even those of us who always come nowhere, to have a bit of additional fun throughout the season. Greatly appreciated Gringo.

What are we like. Reaching the play offs and giving us the belief we could do this. Beating the odds in the 4th match of the play offs at Arbroath and out of it at half time in the first leg against StJohnstone! Only to still be in it level with a great chance of promotion at the start of the 2nd half of the 6th and final play off game of the season! Nobody can say we didn’t give it our best attempt. Well done all !

Agreed FJ. Also new young supporters. My daughter (11) attended a game for the first time and 4 goals on friday in the first leg including an exciting finale on the night left her asking when we could go again. Work commitments yesterday meant we couldn't go down last night to Perth but I have now promised her an away trip next season v the Rangers which she is buzzing about ( sunny Cove that is)

We may well use the group stage matches as our pre-season matches again. I hope not, though, as it would be good to get through the group stages this time round.

What a rollercoaster of a season. A great start, albeit a bit flattering, a dire middle, then a great finish to make the play offs. Over the two legs, St Johnstone deserved to win, but it could have been so different had we not lost the second goal or if Doran had pulled one back. I wanted us to win and get promoted but, being totally honest, I was concerned that we could be the whipping boys next season unless we got our recruitment spot on. I hope we can use the last two months as a foundation for next season, and strengthen our squad as well as replacing those key players we will be losing (eg Broadfoot, McAlear). Priorities for me are full backs and creative players who can provide the assists for Mckay and Samuels. We have a decent nucleus with guys like Ridgers, Deas, Harper, Carson, Allardice, MacGregor, Walsh, Samuels and Mckay under contract, but we may see bids for Deas and MacGregor. If Devine is likely to sign a new contract, that is great news. We also have promising youngsters in Hyde and Lewis Nicolson who should be ready for more exposure. Both have looked to have potential this season. Hopefully we have them tied up for next season too. We probably did as well this season as we could have expected, let’s go one better next year (and a cup run of two would be good too). Thanks to the CTO team for the previews and reports each week: always a great read.

For what it's worth, I disagree with those who suggest that Rooney was wrong to celebrate his goal so enthusiastically. These days players often have a dozen or more clubs in the course of their careers and, in my opinion, only owe loyalty to the club that they are playing for at any one time. Rooney was fully committed when he played for us and we miss him badly. However, he has been a St Johnstone player now for a number of seasons and a very influential one at that. He is perfectly entitled to celebrate with his team mates and in front of his own fans without intending or showing any disrespect to us. In my book, the only exceptions to that are true club legends, like in our case, Tokely or Munro who have moved on after very many seasons although they are becoming increasingly rare at all levels.

I was saying to a few folk last night I was torn about wanting to go up. Obviously for the better exposure, ability to attract or retain more / better players, bigger crowds and the clear financial benefits you want us to go up. But on the flip side you have rubbish kick off times, multiple midweek rounds of fixtures and shockingly expensive tickets amongst other things. Whilst I am disappointed at not going up there is a (very) small part of me that is at ease with the thought of 3 pm games most Saturdays and arguably better away days than some of the matches in the Premiership. Probably not a view that will be shared by many, especially not the bean counters at the club, but I'm trying to seek out something positive from last night!

I totally agree. I think he has learned loads this season

I’ve seen a lot of folk saying we need a target man for the long balls. I really hope we don’t go down this route. When we play it on the deck we’ve got the players to win this league and it’s much better to watch. just a personal preference but what’s the point of having creative midfielders if our defence just misses them out. Hope we can find a good replacement for Kirk broadfoot. He’s been a bit of a rock this season.

CTO REPORT That's it for another season from CTO Editorial Team. Grateful thanks to Iain for all the PotY Polls and Eric, who despite being unwell has worked tirelessly behind the scenes updating the stats. A truly mind numbing task, especially with nine subs now to be added. With these guys working mostly in the background that enables me to churn out Previews and Reports. If you enjoyed them, I'm tm4tj, if not then I'm CaleyD (Disclaimer. Only joking) See you next season.

The "highlights" are on YouTube. Needless to say I won't be watching them.

Congratulations to Wngwie for having the only correct answer in the poll. His reward in the opportunity to watch Cove Rangers next season on four occasions. As for the over optimistic rest of us, our consolation prize is the opportunity to watch Cove Rangers on four occasions next season.

I was just going to use this thread to ask the same question and then ask who you'd keep and release etc so I will let you post thoughts on that :)? We know we've lost McAlear, Chalmers and Hardy back to their parent clubs and Kirk confirmed on Radio AND TV that he's leaving which is no surprise. John Robertson did state before the match that he's been in England scouting which is good because we certainly needed to strengthen and increase the squad no matter what league we ended up in. Imho, if we do keep the nucleus of this squad and add to it that we're well capable of winning the title as we proved this season, all we need to do is stop losing points to the teams at the bottom of the table. I still believe in this team but we HAVE to aim for the title as I'm frankly getting sick of being in this league, it been far to bloody long!

I've never understood this way of thinking. It's surely more disrespectful not celebrating for the club that you play for and pays your wages.

Great to see the new format. I was getting heartily sick of being beaten by Hearts at Tynecastle. Would be great to to make more progress in one of the major cup competitions than we seem to have in recent years.

I have no idea how long Sutherland will be out for, but we must stand by him and offer him new terms.

I'm not on the testimonial committee but I'm told there will be later on in the year.

Definitely more away days closer for me with us in Championship

Well done to her and to you. It may not be what she might have been expecting but I am sure that she will find a visit to the Balmoral Stadium a much more pleasant experience than being abused and pelted with goodness knows what in the away section at Ibrox.

Absolute idiots. Silly young boys demonstrating that they have a lot of growing up still to do. If I was a St Johnstone fan I would have been cringing with embarrassment at these thoroughly juvenile but still, for some, very intimidating antics.

Haven't watched the highlights yet, but TBF to Chalmers, the guy he loses, ends up in the middle of where our two CB's should be, although that was between Deas and Devine so not sure where Broadfoot was. I should have put money on bloody Stevie 'he hasn't scored in 24 games' May scoring. The absolute killer was that deflected shot. Anyway...I think a real plus from this season of this season is the re-emergence of a large crew of young/new/vocal supporters, which if they can be encouraged to keep coming next season will be both a financial and motivation boost for the team. Looking forward to next season, I'm so proud of the club, and love following it

I always thought Rooney was a crap RB but very good going forward

I here what your saying, but it would be nice to have the option of a big guy, who might hold the ball up, or knock on for guys like Samuels to play-off... and be in the middle for crosses from the wings, because for all their qualities it's asking a lot for guys like Mckay, Samuels, Hardy to take on CB's bigger and stronger for 90+mins. Let's be fair for certain games where we were under pressure like Arbroath away and St Johnstone, the ball is going to get hoofed. I was thinking how last year Todorov won so many headers for us. Obviously not always easy to get a big guy who isn't just a carthouse for the money we can pay.

That group is actually quite menacing? All dressed in black with 2 of the flares ( as you can see actual flares) thrown at stewards. Then covered up their faces with the flags pretty sharpish too. I don't know if it was the fact this game felt so much but the normal friendly ST J/ICT atmosphere wasn't there.

I would say the end of the season, Dodds was making subs and changes that swung games (the Killie and some of the playoff games come to mind). I reckon he's learned a lot and if we can get some depth to the squad and a striker we can aim the long balls to, we've got a good chance

A very worthy cause and a practical way of showing appreciation to a great club servant for over a decade all to frequently blighted by injury. We may in all likelihood never see Aaron on the pitch again so a perfect opportunity to say goodbye, if goodbye it is and allow him to leave with some very well merited boost to his finances.

On Facebook I have had two separate features about St Johnstone winning 'suggested' for me. I view this very dimly.

And we need a reliable goalscorer. But then again who doesn't? Despite our apparent inability to score whilst creating lots of pressure, we ended up with the second highest goals-for figure, one behind Arbroath. Third-best goals-against, significantly better than the seven below us. We basically need more strength in depth throughout the team!

Devine is meant to be signing a new deal with us. McAlear hasn't ruled out returning to Inverness but I'd be stunned if that did come true. Welsh, Sutherland and Duffy would be worth new deals. I expect Deas to leave in the summer and wouldn't be shocked if Carson also returned south. Not that I want either of those guys to leave but Deas has been superb for us for a while and has been attracting attention from top tier clubs whilst Carson may want to move closer to home / family. We simply have to sign left and right backs in the summer together with wide midfielders. Whilst we seem to have decent numbers in the middle our wide areas are sorely lacking and have been for some time.

From the out of contract list, my priority would be Welsh and Devine. Doran has been a magnificent servant over many years. However, it has become increasingly obvious this season that over a decade of significant injuries and gruelling rehabilitation have taken their toll. It would be with considerable reluctance and great sorrow but with such a limited budget and a thin squad, I fear that the time has come to bit a fond and immensely grateful farewell.

Signed up for next season: Mark Ridgers David Carson Robbie Deas Cameron Harper Scott Allardice Roddy MacGregor Tom Walsh Billy Mckay Austin Samuels Definitely leaving: Reece McAlear (end of loan) Logan Chalmers (end of loan) Joe Hardy (end of loan) Kirk Broadfoot Ryan Fyffe (signed for Buckie Thistle) Out of contract: Cammy Mackay Danny Devine Wallace Duffy Harry Nicolson Lewis Nicolson Aaron Doran Lewis Hyde Sean Welsh Shane Sutherland

You are correct https://ictfc.com/austin-samuels-signs-for-ictfc https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scottish-premiership/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/SC1 Not sure how many of these will be viable options or even available but it's worth a look https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/scottish-championship/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/SC2 A more realistic one also worth a look ;). I'm not going to fill this thread with links to out of contract players at English and Scottish clubs as that will clog up the thread and tbh we have a Sporting Director that will deal with signings etc so I think we need to trust him

I believe Austin Samuel was signed on an 18 month deal in January so should have him for next season i think

I'll say what I said on Facebook, on here as it is a fair point I make I believe that we have the nucleus of a good squad so if we can retain as much of them as possible and recruit well in the window then there's no reason to not be making an assault on the title and going head to head with Dundee. It was good to hear John Robertson mention before the match that he's been down in England scouting but it's now time for the board to show ambition and start backing the gaffer in the transfer market because we need to get out of this bloody league soon, its been too long now but thus season proves that we aren't far away. As has been said, we go again next season, its not long until the league cup so we don't have long to plan ahead

That was tough to take. I actually said at h-t that we'd played really well but might pay for not taking the chances. At h-t Davidson clearly reminded his players that a similar 45 might see them in the Championship. It was a great support from ICT, too. Not sour grapes but we should just have promotion playoffs as in England, not a second chance for sides who deserve to be relegated.

Gutted, but so proud of our team, our club and our fans. You did us proud and fought to the last. We cannot ask for more. Thank you.

I have to agree about Rooney and the sad thing is we have never replaced him and that is why we have struggled the last few seasons. A good effort tonight from the players after all the extra games.

Although we got further than I'd hoped when we started the playoffs, and the team can be very proud of how far they came, we really need to find a different way of winning next season. We need a target man, so we can change tactics when punting the ball up the park isn't being won by our small strikers. When we play on the deck with short fast passes, we usually create something, the long punt brings nothing, unless we can change it by bringing on a target man. So, it's another season in the championship, and it will be another season of building a team again, as a number of players will have played their last game for ICT.

It might be fortunate if any ban imposed for illegal gambling coincides with his rehabilitation period.

This team As has been stated, we were abysmal for a vast majority of the game and have to thank Ridgers (again) for keeping us in it, that save at 0-0 was excellent but the one from Middleton was even better (he 100% got a touch to it by the way) and the one where he saved his own blunder on to the bar was as crucial :). We've criticised Billy quite a bit this season (especially during our dreadful run) so he rightly deserves praise this play off campaign for making the right changes at the right time and also applaud him for admitting he got the starting formation wrong tonight, it's clear that we have to go 4-4-2 on Monday and keep it tight for as long as possible :D. Ridgers Carson Broadfoot Devine Deas Doran McAlear Allardice Chalmers McKay and Samuels. Subs: Mackay, Harper, Hyde, Welsh, Nicolson, Hardy and either Strachan or Dan Mackay's bro. That would be the team I'd go with though I'd be amazed if Billy dropped Welsh. As I posted on Facebook, COME ON LADS, ONE FINAL PUSH !

I'm confident we will be promoted if we win this evening.