Scarlet Pimple

Not him if Harley will be offered the assistant manager's job. Unless Mr Hartley is very flexible indeed I can't see him subjugating his personality and ideas to another strong manager like Shiels--unless they know each other well, of course? Soon?

Not quite sure that a lack of money will be the bugbear for T Butcher in his quest to build the team. Rod Petrie is hardly likely to have spent the money on three coaches at the expense of getting in the right players. Maybe Collins will be transferred out to save some money if he doesn't perform to a high standard? And T B and Marsella will be relied upon heavily to bring in more good prospects from England--just exactly as they have done at Tulloch stadium. Why not--it's a no-brainer, surely?

John Hughes? Passionate and committed--yes,. But might not quite be the fit for Inverness Caledonain Thistle who might be looking for a slightly more sophisticated and hardened individual. eh?

It would be difficult for Hartson to be the Manager with a more experienced individual as his assistant. But the reverse situation might apply very well indeed. Especially for the future ......

Mainstander Do you mean on the pitch or in the stands or in the Boardroom?

We don't wish them both any harm but, if their boss gets the boot after 18 months, where WILL they go...back to ICT? I doubt that very much since it is unlikely that ICT will not have fully adjusted to the change by then.

WELL, IF WE GET THAT WOMAN MANAGER, THE WORDING of VICE-CAPTAIN WILL BE CONTROVERSIAL WON''T IT?

Watch out for IHE, Cardo...he wears a kilt. Be nice to Donview 'cos he lives in Aberdeen and is a closet and passionate ICT fan. Be nice also to Charles Bannerman 'because he will get your name in the papers. And Dougall really tries hard on here and gets a lot of stick from some guys just because he is different--- which is good....eh? And for Scarlet Pimple, by the time you can make up your mind either as to what he really means, or what he is saying, he is off at the toot. And then re-appears disguised as someone else to tickle your tonsils. And he doesn't wear a kilt these days. But a "coat -of many -colours" is often his garb of the day. In short, be nice to everyone and keep your powder dry. And a big Highland welcome.

And finds him sobbing on the floor.

Quite a few people on here don't want Mr Sutton and are going about town pronouncing his name backwards. Nottus.

KIngsmills---guys sitting in their prams...Ha! Ha! ha! IHE.... How do you spell Narciisisissimmi again?

Calderwood, Sheils, Robbo and Barry Wilson , Paul Hartley etc. My head is spinning. But Paul Hartley is an up and coming , dynamic and successful younger man with a very bright future and he appears to be thirsty for success but he is also popular with his players who admire him and apparently look to him for guidance. And his recent past record speaks for itself. And how !!! Reeking with determination and ambition, he also appears to be a very good strategist with a very hard-headed, visionary mind and approach to doing business. From what I have read, his success has not (yet) gone to his head and he has that down-to-earth character that attracts compliments and loyalty from his players. Whoever is appointed will be under intense scrutiny and appraisal until he proves himself. Hartley has undoubtedly proved himself at the lower levels of Scottish football but a step up to the Spl with the now, also, ambitious and dynamic Caley Thistle team is a significant challenge and would either be one step too far for him or two steps in front of everybody else. But football is football whether it is played in a back street in Glasgow or the Longman at Inverness and once someone gets a grip on his new job then he either is a determined winner or not. I like him and he gets my vote, because I think he is a winner and has the ability to fit in seamlessly into the Caley Thistle set-up. And, hopefully, the team will grow along with him. However, the choice of assistant coach will be critical for him to achieve the peaks.

Very decisive action by Mr Kenny Cameron and a very smart move. Richie is an articulate and intelligent man. And,as someone else said, an inspirational and skilful workhorse and an example of true professional dedication to the club and the cause. Thank you Mr Foran for your sense of commitment. I don't think you will be sorry and the future is bright for you at Caley Thistle.

Yep, be watchful, Richie, he seems to be a a ruthless, impetuous type. And once he makes up his mind there is no going back.

No need to be timid about good people moving on. Good people have to grow and advance or they stagnate and decline. What's wrong with hiring a restless and ambitious Manager? It's all about encouragement whilst they are in the position and wishing them well when they move upwards--provided, of course, that they do it the correct way . If you try to retain them by holding them back then this can only breed disillusionment and resentment and the person will move on, regardless of what you think anyway. It's good policy and shrewd to foster the relationship and continue to offer support as you go along. Then when the Manager moves onwards he leaves as a friend and a good future contact. The Spl is actually a small league and what is the point in making negative contacts? Unless you are dealing with a person who is likely to betray you..........

The Three Stooges, what else?

Dunno. But I sure as heck don't fancy Barry Ferguson. Reputation precedes him. Loose cannon with a capital L. Would not fit in well at all with the upper echelons of Caley Thistle IMHO.

Or--does such a man exist ?

Do we need to look for a man with a bit of class about him. To fit in with Caley Thistle's image. Or do we also need what Terry Butcher referred to as style, skill and steel.Absolutely, but not if it also includes treachery.

A man with a mind of his own. Strong and passionate. If he learns to smile more he could be the answer to a maidens' prayer. Especially if he wore the kilt. Mr Sheils has a way with (verbal) spiels But he has never learned to click his heels. He would not be good in the Nazi's fold 'Cos his outbursts are far too bold But If he promises to curtail his rants Then maybe he'll get the red and blue pants. What we don't need is a little milksop But one who will resolve that he will-nae flop A man with passion and a restless mind An aggressive fella --yep, that's the kind.

Fraser..."this thread has gone nuts" Desperation, really, that's all. It will wear off and sanity will gradually seep back in again..... Ha! Ha!

Excellent letter. Keep it going .

Once again, the negative feelings displayed in this thread are NOT about Mr B's so-called achievements but the way in which he engineered his exit. Remember these achievements were not entirely his doing anyway since he had two stalwart assistants, one of whom found most of the English players who have worked out for him, working in close harmony with him. Why, only a week or so before he left, he was saying that he was "currently committed to ICT" -- so what happened s-o-o- suddenly to alter that high ambition? Nothing! It was not sudden at all..... just pre-planned . The more I think about it the more the sudden exit swims into focus. I suggest that this exit/transfer to Hibs was contemplated and discussed with someone from the Easter road organisation at least three months prior to it's execution. There is no way that even Hibs could have arranged all this turmoil, which involved three prominent members of our coaching team, at such short notice. And perhaps even Pat Fenlon himself got a hefty payment to assist in this process for all we know. His departure was also very sudden, apparently, but not so sudden that Rod Petrie was wringing his hands in total dismay and total disarray, shocked to the core and crying out in anguish...."Mea Culpa. Mea Culpa." Or so it seems! In fact, all appeared calm and serene at Easter Road in these last few weeks...correct? So, is it realistic to think that Pat and Rod and Ter didn't all just have a chat on what was best for all of them long beforehand? If you get the news that you are expected to uproot and depart for Edinburgh only a week before you are expected to be en route south, then how much time does that take to flabbergast and dismay your wife and family . A move which potentially involves selling the house and changing schools perhaps,? No person who is settled in a district is going to take kindly to such a peremptory order or offer even? Time is needed to arrange things so you do the mathematics. This was done and dusted months ago IMHO. Anyone disagree? And, if so, that is betrayal and opportunism at it's worst because it has now left ICT hung out to dry. It does not just affect T. B. but other people also, including the fans, by the way, especially those who have committed to the club for the rest of the season by having purchased season tickets. And this is not just about one person's leaving for a better job. Because other senior and vital components of the team structure were always going to be adversely affected by such a radical decision--even possibly sufficiently to crush the hopes of the team for the remainder of the season. That's not just about bettering oneself, that's just plain not doing the right thing. T. B. was not just an ordinary employee but one who was right at the top of the heap , meaning that any sudden unexpected departure from his duties could be catastrophic for the club... like a mortar shell falling on your space without any warning. Mr. Cameron would never have stood in the way of any member of his club if he had been taken into the confidence of the person who wanted to leave. He would accept it as inevitable and then it would be worked out so that when the big offer came after the end of the season then plans would be in place to fill the void. That's a classy way of working, not doing the sudden dump on the club and the persons who helped bring Mr. Butcher to prominence. What was Butcher afraid of? That the club would start to slide down the table and by the end of the season it would be in the lower level doldrums? Or that he would be fired anyway at the end of the season if he revealed his feelings to the Board. Neither scenario is believable. So that leaves only one reason for going so suddenly--opportunism....or "I'm all right, Jack. how about you?" Have a great day to all our loyal team members and fans.

The size of his watch matches the size of his head methinks..

Putting on his green tie, Huh! Funny you should say that , I had noticed today how darn quick he was to adorn his princely neck with it and apparently over the moon with it. Hope he wakes up in a week or so with a male Leprechaun in his bed trying to get into his green pyjamas. It's almost as if ICT never really existed for goodness sake.