Scotty

John Calder, Jamie Duff, Barry Wilson ... and just signed Wyness ... and now this strip !!! PML

as per the stats page (and confirmed in Ian Broadfoots stats) Home Attendance Record by Division 9530 vs Aberdeen (SPL, Pittodrie, 16.10.04) 7753 vs Rangers (SPL, Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, 20.01.08) 6092 vs St Johnstone (Div 1, Caledonian Stadium, 15.5.2004) 3279 vs Livingston (Div 2, Caledonian Stadium, 27.02.99) 5525 vs Ross County (Div 3, Caledonian Stadium, 15.03.97)

Our official capacity is 7753 as we reached that for a single game Vs Rangers (oldco). 2280 sounds about right for the main stand as I remember that figure from pre all-seater days. North/South stands are somewhere between 2450-2550 each (not sure exact number) and west stand-ette is about 4-500 or so .... overall it adds up to 7753 (officially).

that was the issue .... like many other projects (not just stadiums), the projected costs were a lot lower than the actual costs turn out to be ... one day's delay costs thousands, a 'slight tweak' to a design costs tens of thousands, and thats before you even consider the inefficiencies of some contractors, genuine mistakes, or changes in the infrastructure surrounding the stadium that had nothing to do with the actual stadium build but came out of the same pot of cash .... There's been a lot of "soccer specific stadiums" built over this side of the pond in recent years and the costs are staggering !!! 13 of the 19 MLS teams now play in proper football stadiums, as opposed to community stadiums or NFL stadiums, with another team due to open a new one next year, and the costs range from $28.5m for Columbus' 20,000 seat stadium to $220m for the 25,000 seat Red Bull Arena in NY. Most (8) seem to be in the $100m and upwards range and hold between 20-30,000 fans. Toronto's 22,000 capacity BMO field was $62.5m and other than the main stand the other three are 'temporary' stands like TCS

You're probably too young to remember the funding issues when it was built. It was a modular design with the potential to fill those bits in later if required, so rather than shooting them, I would commend their vision You could of course just have left the ends off and reduced the main stand to 1700, but with the wings it takes 2200. Besides, I rather like it. It's unique!i have it on good athourity, that the roof on the main stand was originally planned to extend another 30ft toward the pitch, giving better cover from weather and creating a better atmosphere, but again, cut backs had to be made I believe you are both correct. The main stand and its roofing, was originally supposed to cover the full length but costs dictated some economies had to be made and we now have what we have ! I have also seen plans where the rest of the ground had stands that connected to the main stand. These were low profile and 'flowed' round from the main stand and seemed to integrate with them rather than just be 4 'blocks' waiting for corners to be filled in.

for those despairing that he has been playing P/T ... just remember that Dougie Imrie came to us after progressing from Juniors to SPL in a short timeline ... and he did ok for us !!! it may not be a common occurence, but its not impossible. Give the guy a chance ....

Charles Bannerman's new favourite player ...... Danny - please tell us what subject he was hoping to teach ? It will make a big difference whether CB or Mantis is his biggest fan !!!!

I like those two quotes in particular. Know nothing about the player or his ability so cant really comment on whether he will work for us or not !

Highlighted a couple of sentences ... 1st is correct, and for the second, I believe the club included Tokely in that list when they made their comment. Rossco (or people close to him) subsequently indicated via Facebook/Papers that he wasnt going back as the contract offer didnt meet his needs. I understand that comment, and I agree it is tantamount to an official statement from the player, but I dont know what - if any - conversations have taken place with the club. If the contract offer has not been officially rejected, the club cant make an official statement. The fact of the matter is that current Social Media use means that fan forums are constantly awash with news long before an official website can put out the same info. Clubs also have to be very careful about posted stories as they can be held liable in law, and also by the SPL/SFA for the content on official sites. That is one of the main reasons that CTO stopped being the official site 9 or 10 years ago !!! We were offered the chance to continue but the terms meant that we would have had to literally close down the forums or sanitise the content to the point where it was palatable to the SPL ... As over-moderated as users think they may be at times now, that would have been disastrous so we would not do that, and instead we amicably agreed to run in parallel to the official site giving fans an independent voice and not getting the club into any bother ! I know its probably not relevant in this particular situation ... but lets assume the club did put out a statement saying the offer was rejected. If the player had not done so officially, and there was no expiry date on the actual contract he was offered, then whats to stop the player taking action against the club over it? We do not know whats in those contracts, we do not know if deadlines were officially set in those contracts (or just verbalised generically), and we dont know who has spoken to who about what ..... For my own part, I would like to see Rossco playing for ICT next season and transition into an off-field role, and would hope the club considered his impact for ICT not just in the past, but also in the present in the contract offer they made. From the player's comments, it seems clear that he does not think that is the case and given the choice, I would like to see the club make an improved offer to him. I dont think it will happen, but that is what I would like to see ..... I have never met TB but I would have thought he was a 'strong' enough character to not feel threatened by almost anyone? I would also have thought that after the departure of Grant and Russell last year .... especially Grant, that he would be more than aware that kicking another club stalwart out the door this year would pretty much make most fans very critical of the coming season in terms of results ... but then again, as a few folk know, there are more personalities in the backroom team than just TB (or MM) !!! If Grant does well over the bridge next season, and Rossco is not replaced with a solid and steady defender then the manager has created a rod for his own back whereby fans will be ready to turn on him at the first sign of trouble and use Grant, Russell, and Rossco as the ammunition. Its a very risky gamble, and I hope it comes off, because even I am not a 'happy clapper' right now !!! Because Aberdeen went official about the signing, then the player denied it .... what did the club officially say about Jonny ? Not much really ! I can see that happening too. Assuming we do actually lose every player we think we will during the close season then next years team will be very different and if results are weak in the opening 1/4 of the season the pressure will be on, with the added fuel that many fans will be feeling resentful over their perceptions of the treatment of Tokely and others before him. The alternative of course is that TB has scouted out suitable replacements for those players and we unearth new gems (or rough diamonds) rather than lumps of carbon ! The contract offer seems to have been rejected via Facebook and The Sun .... the club cant really make an official statement until its been rejected to them officially.Isn't Tokely quoted in the papers as saying that he messaged Butcher to say he would not be accepting? Of course the papers could be adding that bit in or maybe he never got the text.... No Tokely is in the papers saying he contacted Butcher to say the offer wasnt good enough and Butcher texted back to say his hands were tied .... no official rejection on either side, and the club position is that RT has been given more time to decide.

The contract offer seems to have been rejected via Facebook and The Sun .... the club cant really make an official statement until its been rejected to them officially. Gutted as I am about the Tokely situation (and make no mistake, I am gutted about it) - and the blame game that is and will get played - lets all just calm down here. The club wont be issuing statements every 5 minutes about something or other, especially in response to Facebook, Twitter, or Tabloid comments or speculation or because a few forum users demand it ... and we should not be getting our knickers in a twist when they dont do it ....

If you think that's bad, a previous design for the North Stand showed that the club at one time intended to call it "The Dolphin Stand"! I think that was a mockup drawn by a fan !!!! I have the pic somewhere ..... yup, just found it. They took Gordon Gillespie's famous ICT stadium photo and drew in a stand .....

There are going to be those who say he got an offer and rejected it, and those who say he was forced out because the offer was derisory. Honest answer is that I dont know the truth so until I do (if ever), I am going to ignore that and focus on the Ross Tokely legacy and the 16 immense years of service he has given the club. To answer someone else's question, I dont think RT has a an agent or at least he didnt last time he signed a contract .. I remember him saying in an interview that he had approached Pele for advice as his mentor. I do agree there should be some lasting legacy to RT at the TCS. We will never have a player that stays as long or as loyal to the club ever again and that should be celebrated. I doubt he will get a full stand named after him, but maybe one of the hospitality suites or maybe the shower room ? (The Ross Tokely 'early bath') .... another idea, which is something Toronto FC have instigated is a "Wall of Honour" as opposed to a "Hall of Fame". When a player of significance to the club retires they put up a picture of their shirt with the players name on the back ..... like the image below. Might that be an idea for ICT? or does the "Hall of Fame" cover that ?

very disappointing news ... thats about all I can say just now !!!! With Tokely, Tansey, Tade, Tuffey, Piermayr, Proctor, & Hayes all gone or going and Gillet & Tudur-Jones still mulling over their offers there are going to be some very big shoes to fill next season, none moreso than Rossco a true legend of ICT and as noted, our sole link back to the early days. Rossco was player #41 signed by ICT and if he is not coming back (and Proctor #96 is also gone) then our longest serving player will now be Ryan Esson (#135) followed closely by Richie Foran (#143) !

story here: http://ictfc.com/new...are-on-the-way- This season really is a make or break season for us IMO and we really need to assemble a squad capable of firstly remaining in the SPL but also hopefully challenging for mid-table. Talking to players under contract?? Think league of Ireland is coming into mid season transfer window. Window opens tomorrow in Kenya and I think France season finishes soon. I suppose also that some players may be contracted in UK till end August. Players in Scotland/England will also still be under contract until May 31st in most cases but free to talk since Christmas if they are in the last year of contract .... English window is already open as far as I know as it starts at "end of season". the Scottish (and France, Germany, Italy & Spain) window officially open on July 1st, Denmark on 11 June, Australia on 1st June, Holland on 9th June. MLS mid-season window opens on 27 June, and as mentioned Kenya opens on Friday. lots of options, but the club can still talk to out of contract players across Europe anytime, its just the actual transfer date that might be up in the air if the contract is still to expire. I will stick my neck out here with one player name I think could do a job for ICT. Nana Attakora. 23 year old centre half, 31 caps at U17-U23 level, 3 full Canadian caps, not currently with a club, but registration may still be held by San Jose or MLS itself (its complicated). Had a trial at Hibs last year which was extended and Hibs fans seemed pleased with him. Not sure if he was offered a contract or not, but he was offered one in Germany but rejected it and decided to go back to MLS ...... after half a season without a club in MLS (and therefore with little or no wages unless he is drawing a basic salary from the organisation itself) he may be of a different mindset now and I know from personal experience of watching him in a significant number of his 68 appearances for Toronto FC that when paired with the correct partner he can be an excellent defender. Wages wise, he might be affordable too as his last published salary in MLS was $45000 which is about £30,000 per year or a little under £600 per week !!!

apparently, according to the link he is also quite a skilled manufacturer of communications equipment .... "I have phoned Terry and thanked him for the opportunity he has given me. It was the hardest telephone I have made ...."

ICT cannot really make a statement other than to say they dont know whats going on can they? The player is currently a free agent, he is on holiday abroad, and his agent has, by the sounds of it, sourced or agreed a deal at Aberdeen that meets whatever requirements he (JH) may have set the agent before he left on his hols .... only JH himself can issue any definitive statement to say whether he will accept the offered/agreed deal ...

disappointed. If true, it seems to be a move motivated by money rather than career enhancement or ambition and I thought JH was a bigger man than that. nothing more to say really. unfollowed on Twitter !

Bottle Crashing (sorry Heilandee )

disappointed really as I felt he was one of those who could possibly step up a gear. Sometimes effective, sometimes not ... but I had the inkling that there was a spark there waiting to be ignited ..... As others have said, not irreplaceable, but like CaleyD he would have been on my "keep" list !

Ach well, 12 years in this competition for Vancouver .... 0 wins. 5 years in it for TFC and 4 wins We enjoyed the win ... nothing else to celebrate so far this season TFCpics TV: http://www.youtube.com/user/highlanderict

Yeah that was Eric Hassli and 99 times out of 100 it would have gone miles over but he caught it just perfect on the volley.

I would put (legally earned and fully tax paid) money on that scenario being exactly what happens and if it does then I cannot see how I could continue to maintain my current/previous position regarding the current sanctions being enough. if everything that is coming out now about the EBTs, on top of the other stuff, is proved to be correct, Rangers would have to be kicked out of football at any level .... and a few folk will be getting a bit twitchy as each passing day brings more revelations that could and perhaps should lead to criminal charges.

on the actual topic .... Given that it has been reported that he vowed never to play football again in his statement of mitigation then he is not only a convicted killer, but a liar too. I see the Swindon chairman has said "He wants to come back and give something back to society. The best way we can do that is to rehabilitate, and that’s the role Swindon can play...... Luke might have done 3½ years but he undoubtedly wakes up with a life sentence every day and thinking about what he’s done. Does he try and do something positive with the rest of his life and give something back? If one life is saved in the future because of that, then it’s the right action.” Sorry. but for me, the way to save lives as a convicted drunk driver who killed two kids and put the father in a wheelchair with a broken neck and back is not to return to your former profession as if nothing happened but to become a spokesperson for the likes of CADD or Brake in the same way that reformed drug addicts frequently talk to kids or vulnerable groups about the dangers of drugs from a perspective of someone who has been there, done that, and suffered the consequences .... not a positive role model, more of a warning of what can happen, and how you can wreck families with this action .. If he is truly contrite, he would at least consider something like that.

OK, lets not get personal here. Post has already been reported to mods and will be dealt with.

with Barry Robson and Eric Hassli in the team, Vancouver will definitely be the biggest bunch of whingeing bar stewards on the planet ! If he's there by 11th July I might get to shout at him when TFC take on Vancouver in MLS !