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Well I sheepishly slunk into the stadium today, embarrassed by the fact that I hadnt seen the team this year. Other things had taken priority. Other things were more enjoyable. Other things offerred more value for money......things that had always had to take a back seat behind ICT. I was doing my duty, I felt, to support my team in their hour of need. I will travel to Inverness next week also for the denouement. However, I have to say that the product on offer today was so poor. On this evidence our players simply arent good enough. The loanees arent playing for the shirt.......why should they? It is scarcely credible that, had the penalty gone in, we would have won that game. I am not going to single out players.....that was a shitshow. Inept. If we stay up by some miracle then next year will only be worse again and more fans will drift away. I feel sorry for Ridgers who has to watch this every week.

Reporting on the Man City game on Thursday, one BBC reporter described Kevin de Bruyne as "the Belgian Duncan Ferguson" after he opened the scoring with a fine headed goal. De Bruyne shows great promise and will surely have been hugely flattered to be described in this way. It occurs to me that the lad might be keen to play here next season and continue his development under the guidance of Big Dunc himself. This could be a great move for ICT as well as for young Kevin. With Doran sadly looking to be past his sell by date, we are lacking a creative midfielder who can score goals and de Bruyne could be just the type of player we need.

That aged well.

We need Sean McAllister on form like he was last Friday as well as our strikers actually putting away chances, I think Mr McKay is due a goal , and as has been stated above, the defence concentrating for 90+mins as one lapse was one to many last week which turned out to be costly!

Not sure if this has been discussed, but the dates for the playoffs are officially out now.

What worries me now is an obviously fired up Queens Park taking on an Airdrie side with their focus on the playoffs. Airdrie are likely to play a weakened side next week and I doubt there will be any favours coming our way.

Quick insult another player

That’s a very fair comment. It highlights why getting involved with the Supporters Trust is important for everyone who cares about the club. The Trust has made it clear that it won’t invest in shares without commitments from the club, and the commitments sought will have to reflect the views of its members. I know some are sceptical but, I’m my opinion, the recent growth in membership if the Trust and the resulting influence it can bring to bear can only be positive.

This is the wording of the Chairman’s letter to sponsors, with contact details removed: I am writing to you today, firstly to thank you for your backing of our football club, and secondly to appeal to you to kindly continue that support. As I am sure you are aware, we have recently and very disappointingly, had planning refused by Highland Council for the installation of a 4 acre battery energy storage farm on the site of the former Fairways Golf Course, the reason given was due to loss of green space in a private green space area of 200 acres. This is despite the fact that one of our many important and impactful Caley Thistle community projects involves the complete resurrection of a significantly larger green space adjacent to Inverness Royal Academy, which is a ten acre site that will be used as a community hub for the city and beyond, promoting physical and mental health wellbeing for thousands of people both young and old in the Highlands. Our quest to seek planning permission for the battery farm has now been escalated to Scottish Government level and it is our strong expectation that the Highland Council’s decision will be overturned on appeal but this will take a number of months. What this means is that we face significant pressure on our cash flow. To that end, I am writing to all our sponsors to ask if you would be able to help us through this situation by renewing your advertising with us slightly earlier than normal. If you are able to renew by return, it would be hugely appreciated by everyone at ICTFC and will not only help the club continue in our current form, but it will also allow us to continue the great work we do in the city and beyond, especially as we enter our 30th anniversary. If you can help us, we would be able to thank you for that support by offering a 15% discount on last season’s price for an early renewal. If you can help, please contact our Commercial Director Keith Haggart, either on his email address of ——- or by mobile ——-. Finally, as ever, on behalf of myself, the Board of Directors and Executive team, it is a privilege to serve our football club and we thank you for being a part of the club which has represented the city so well in the last 30 years.

As we head to the end of the season, if only we had an alternate income stream to use the facilities during the summer. If only someone had thought of a concert venue for some 'has-been' artists appealing to boomers.........

I find this whole situation very worrying. This to me smells of desperation and a current crisis financially. This is like trying to put a plaster on the situation here and now whilst at the same time giving yourself 15% less money which seems crazy. A club with no money that can afford to get 15% less from sponsors. There is so much focus from the club on the battery farm and with it seems much confidence that it will get the go ahead down the line. I think until they know 100% that the battery farm will go ahead then it needs to be forgot about and not factored into our clubs future. Its a very sad situation we find ourselves in and the outcome of this crisis might just be every fans fear unfortunately.

I assume our Chairman has been quoted correctly in his letter to sponsors, otherwise the club would probably have issued a correction of some form. What I find really disappointing is that he again makes the argument that permission should be given because the club is making such a positive use use of green space elsewhere in the City. He was rightly criticised on this point by several Councillors at the planning meeting and yet he keeps banging on about it. He just doesn't seem to understand the basic fact that those making the decision on a planning application need to be seen to base their decision on matters pertaining directly to the application. Getting in a public huff about the fact that elected Councillors and Council Officials have not allowed other matters to be a factor in the decision, only further sours the relationship between Club and Council. It is, frankly, naive and embarrassing. The relevant and much stronger "green space" argument is that the proposal contains a commitment to plant a variety of trees and shrubs on the site which will increase both the biodiversity and the carbon capture potential of the site. I'm afraid I don't have a lot of confidence that the decision will be reversed. I also think it would be prudent to plan on the basis that it won't go through. If I was a sponsor I would not be paying my sponsorship early, I would want to be holding back and seeing what the promised financial restructuring involved.

As Friday 3rd May approaches I am reminded of a night in Perth when Ben Stein emotionally assured me that "It is inevitable that some defeat will enter into even the most victorious life. The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated, it is only defeated when it surrenders"

Play Offs Looming Down to the nitty gritty now as we enter the last two games still in the danger zone and just one point ahead of Queens Park who, as it happens, face Arbroath, the very club that Big Dunc said might have downed tools by now! You couldn't write it, could you. In fairness, Dunfermline have nothing to play for but pride, and a few shekels, does that mean that they will also down tools? Have a word with yourself if you answered yes. The final day of the season next Friday night has Queens Park at home to Airdrie and Inverness at home to Morton. It's going to the wire. At the moment, it's still in our own hands, but it's not over until the fat lady sings. (sit down Michelle...) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Match/Ticket/Bus Info ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Venue H2H v Pars Pld Won Drn Lst For Agst + / - Home 25 10 10 5 31 22 +9 Away 25 9 11 5 30 27 +3 Neutral 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1 Total 52 19 22 11 64 53 +11 We have a pretty hefty advantage over the Pars since we first locked horns with them in the First Division (Championship) back in August, 1999. Our first encounter was at East End Park after we had gained promotion. That didn't end well, a 4-0 defeat, an early injury to Barry Wilson after 6 minutes, a Pars penalty before half time and a red card for Andrew Allan after 66 minutes. Ian Broadfoot's summary of that game: The reality of the First Division hit Caley Thistle hard in this opening league fixture as they slumped to a 4-0 defeat. They were hit by an early injury to Barry Wilson and Andrew Allan was ordered off in the 66th minute for a tackle on Brian Reid. Caley Thistle were only one down at half time to an Andy Smith penalty, but were overwhelmed in the second half. A Brian Reid low drive in 61 minutes made it 2-0 then came the ordering-off. Scott Thomson made it three in 81 minutes and Stewart Petrie completed the rout on the final whistle. Last 10 Competitive Meetings v Pars 0 - 0 (H) 1 - 1 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 2 - 0 (H) 1 - 1 (A) 1 - 2 (H) 0 - 0 (A) 1 - 0 (A) 1 - 1 (H) 1 - 3 (A) The stats show six draws from the last ten meetings with all three this season ending all square. That's where the smart money will be going. However, this is a different beast with more than just relegation at stake. Given our financial plight, the mere existence of our club functioning as it is just now is a growing concern. Going down may well be the catalyst for part time football and seasons in the doldrums should we survive. The ultimate price to pay for failure is plain for all to see. LAST TIME OUT The Caley Jags battered Raith Rovers to a 0-1 defeat at the Caledonian Stadium last Friday night, thanks mainly to a worldy performance by Raith keeper Kevin Dabrowski and his woodwork. Ably assisted by our inability to stick the ball into the net, we snatched defeat from the jaws of a comfortable victory. In terms of performance, everything was positive. In terms of result, it was a disaster. We can't fault the players for effort, but the season long issue of not taking our chances reared it's ugly head big time. It certainly looks likely that some familiar faces will not be here next season. LAST SIX: L D L W W L Dunfermline drew 0-0 with Queens Park at EEP last week as Queens showed plenty of resilience to deny their hosts. The Pars saw the better of the game in a dour scoreless encounter that ensured they have nothing left to play for and QP remained below us in the table. I'm sure Pars' aim will be to finish with a flourish especially at home in front of their own fans and of course the extra £££ for places. LAST SIX: W W W D L D Pos Team Pld W D L F A Pts Table ahead of Airdrie v Dundee United on Friday night. 1. Dundee Utd 34 21 8 5 69 22 71 2. Raith Rovers 34 19 8 7 53 42 65 3. Partick Thistle 34 14 12 8 62 50 54 4. Airdrieonians 34 15 6 13 44 42 51 5. Morton 34 12 8 14 42 43 44 6. Dunfermline 34 11 10 13 39 44 43 7. Ayr United 34 12 6 16 50 58 42 8. Inverness CT 34 9 11 14 37 38 38 9. Queens Park 34 9 10 15 43 56 37 10. Arbroath 34 6 5 23 35 79 23 Friday 26th April Airdrieonians v Dundee United Saturday 27th April Arbroath v Queens PK Dunfermline v Inverness CT Morton v Rovers Partick Th v Ayr United LATEST TEAM NEWS Aaron Doran looks likely to have pulled on the Caley Jags strip for the last time after limping off against Raith Rovers last Friday. Sean McAllister returning was a bonus though but the mystery deepens as to why Roddy MacGregor, Austin Samuels and Nikola Ujdur are not featuring either on the injury list or the team list. Baffling to be honest as Roddy has the midfield attributes required, Austin has the speed and potential and Nikola in my opinion, if fit, would be my first choice on the team sheet. Are these guys on the way out? Add to that seven or eight loan players, then next season will see a massive restructure and rebuild at the Caledonian Stadium. I imagine the board members are squirming in their seats like Angela van den Bogerd at a Post Office inquiry. Here's Dunc isn't it>>> No changes, Doran Out with a knee injury... Dunfermline have former St Johnstone striker Chris Kane available and he is a handful, a sort of taller version of Alex Samuel but with less hair. They also have the human battering ram in the shape of the powerful Alex Jakubiak. Pars v QP last week @ EEP Mehmet Fisher (Breen 86) Benedictus Fagan-Walcott Welch-Hayes (Jakubiak 68) Hamilton Ritchie-Hosler Edwards Todd Kane McCann (Holmes 80) Subs Not Used: Little; Sutherland, Chalmers, O'Halloran, Benjamin, Moffat

Another loss to end the season but the team have remained in fourth place in their league. Team lines and score below and the award winners for the season well done to them all

If we can't summon the type of fighting performance required ( dogs of war, blah blah etc ) when it really matters we are going to be found out badly when we go into the playoffs-sideways possession stuff will be laughable against a direct pumped up league one outfit.

Did anyone actually expect Billy to score it? It’s just not happening for him these days.

Firstly, credit to the large travelling away support who were noisy throughout the game. Just a pity about the idiot verbally abusing Samuel in the first half due to his Dingwall connections: totally uncalled for. The game was disappointing. We were the better team throughout, but our inability to turn possession into goals was our undoing yet again. I need to see the Dunfermline goal again as an awkwardly placed pillar obscured my view but it looked like an unchallenged header. Our penalty was a bit soft but we couldn’t capitalise on it. We were much better after Pepple came on and he took his chance well from a difficult angle. We had a few shots but didn’t really test the goalkeeper. I felt there was an urgency amongst the team but it turned to desperation as the game went on, highlighted by an argument between Ridgers and Boyes about who would take a free kick deep into stoppage time. It is out of our hands now and we need to focus on beating Morton on Friday and hoping Queens Park don’t win.

Looks like you leaving the Market Bar

Same old same old. Plenty of possession but no cutting edge or urgency.

Can't believe Welsh has only missed games through suspension since he left. Was he faking injury?

The 'help the club continue in its current form' is the most worrying part of that letter.

There wasn’t a lot wrong with the penalty on Saturday. It was low and not too far from the corner. To me, a good save rather than a bad penalty. As someone said above, their goalie has saved the last four penalties he has faced. We are not in this mess because Billy has had a couple of penalties saved, and he should not be being singled out.

Has @Gringo done a Rangers and thrown it away with the finishing line in sight or will CDN Girl falter having taken the advantage with one week to go. The only thing certain is they definitely didn't need this pressure with such a pivotal weekend on our own clubs history. Week 34 CDN Girl: 277.80 Gringo: 269.00 The Caley One: 218.10 Caleyjag: 211.80 Jodie Carnie: 196.50 Scotty: 193.00 Robert: 188.00 MrCaleyjag: 168.40 NOHO: 130.20 Mrs Gringo: 125.50 The Mantis: 121.50 Caley Canary: 86.50 Caley Braveheart: 82.30 SOS: 81.50 Old Caley Girl: Bankrupt Crown Jaggie: Bankrupt IHE: Bankrupt Wyness101: Bankrupt Joonya: Bankrupt 4/19 correct 4/14 correct

Well done ladies. I'm sure they've learnt so much this season and will progress further next season.

…and Mrs Gringo shows us all how to play a Joker - nice one

Indeed Johnny boy, we're all going to wake up on Sat morning and not even be in the playoffs, unsure why theres a lot of flapping going on here

FFS Let sleeping dogs lie and re-energise. It ain't over till the Fat Lady sings.

If we do end up in the play offs Travel Club will will be running a bus to both games. Book as usual through Facebook or on 07462218717. Times will be confirmed in due course.

Went to the match yesterday expecting a real battling performance given the seriousness of our position, but what I saw was a bunch of players (not a team), that looked like they really lacked energy. Ridgers did make a few good saves and there was plenty of possession and sideways passing, but not enough fight and desire to keep us out the relegation playoffs. When Billy missed that penalty my heart sank, really felt for him. Summed up our current state of affairs. Even if we do survive in the Championship, I really fear for next season given lack of finances and current structure of the Club.

'Tactics'..........seriously?? We have become an embarrassment.

Interesting. Four teams in it so a one in four chance, which pretty much corresponds with those outcomes. The odds are against us.

I’ve just done a bit of research in case anyone is interested We’ve had 16 seasons of playoffs and only 5 times the Championship club has been saved.

It's not the players - it's the manager

We were honking today. Dunfermline had the deckchairs out and still easily handled our limited attacking threat. In a game we simply had to win we probably had 3 good chances over the ninety. We needed to be XL Bully's but instead we got a group of Chihuahuas. I hope I'm wrong but I can't see that side today beating Montrose over two legs.

53/47 possession - 15 shots, 6 on target and 2 blocked, 8 corners and a missed penalty. Sounds like we were under the cosh and the tactics were all wrong.

You being the expert regarding dogs from the hayloft and Dillinger's halcyon days. After today’s results it’s sadly out of our hands all we can do is try and win or at least draw next Saturday and pray QP implode. The great Highland Franchise Experiment has never looked so fragile shame on the so called guardians and blazers. Dougal

Maybe someone should stop Ferguson getting to the game .

Brings Pepple on who hasn't done anything for us and leaves Roddy on the bench! If we go down at least we should be rid of Dunc and Gardiner.

Very smart thinking by Dunc to give Queens Park Sheridan and Welsh

I'm backing Arbroath to take a point at home against QP. After that, it's down to ourselves to do what we need to do. We could be safe after today....... On the other hand, it could be out of our own hands....

Anyone else getting a bit nervous? Jeez, my mind is saying what if this happens and something else happens! Anyway my worry is that after what Ferguson said about Arbroath is it conceivable that they (Arbroath ) would try less hard to win to spite us? We really need a result today, And not a draw.

We need to assume Queens Park will win at Arbroath, so nothing less than a win will do for us to keep things in our own hands for the last game. We need a performance like last Friday, with the difference that we find the back of the net rather than the woodwork or any part of the goalie’s anatomy. I’m down for this one and really hoping for an enjoyable evening after winning three points in the afternoon. Now really is the time for everyone to step up and ensure we retain our Championship place.

Dead rubber for Dunfermline, so fully expect us to take something from the game, but it really needs to be all 3 points or its squeeky bum time next week. Can see Arborath putting on a performance for the last home game of the season, although form suggests its the 3 points to QP. It'll be a good time for one of our forwards to start scoring goals please and the defence to concentrate for the full 90 mins rather than the 89.5 we have been accustomed most of the season. Big pressure on us otherwise next wk we will have to actually win a home game. Not exactly much to be excited about and definitely not the end to the season we were hoping for given the cup final last season.

It was out of our hands at the time of the interview. Results on the Saturday went in our favour putting it back in our hands again.

Harper has a few offers for next season and none of them is from us. I'd imagine Ridgers may have options also but he's at a different stage of his career and seems settled in the area. Fingers crossed. If we do go down I'd love to see us go the route of using our younger guys and giving them the opportunity to grow and develop as a squad. Not all will make it and some will move on but it's our best chance at putting together the nucleus of a squad that might stay together for a few seasons.

Plans for a battery storage facility at Essich. Blows a bit of a hole in the argument that Fairways was the only site available locally where they could get access to the grid.

So no HL clubs are currently eligible for promotion or even to participate in the playoffs. I wonder if they realised they could not participate or if they thought that they could win the playoffs and then have a couple of months to meet the criteria? Can sort of understand why clubs would be reluctant to make the efforts and spend the money needed if it would be to no avail.