CaleyD

People going to be really upset when both Caledonian and Thistle are removed from our name 🤷‍♂️

During my time there, from when we started with just basic highlights, right through to doing multi-camera live streaming with professional commentary, I had estimated that myself, and others involved, had spent/provided equipment/given time to a value in excess of £300k*....what was charged for live viewing pretty much covered the streaming platform costs only. It was zero cost to the club. It really does rely on volunteers/good will to make it financially viable for clubs...even with a basic single camera setup. The club didn't own any of the equipment/technical infrastructure and, from what I'm told, what was left behind is now unusable for various reasons. *This is what it would have cost if it had all been done 'in house' with the club purchasing all equipment, cabling, software, paying for infrastructure install, paying people's time etc. We didn't need to spend that much, but the cost of additional kit required to do things like live action replays from multiple cameras etc. quickly mounts up, and it was as much a passion project as anything else.

That was all online chat/speculation with people guessing at what he was being paid, the nature of his employment/contract, etc. Administration doesn't automatically allow contracts to be torn up, so that would not have been a deciding factor (in and of itself) on whether he would be due money. I agree it wasn't all about the land deal. If it had been, then Savage would have taken the terms agreed in August 2024. He clearly decided that circa 90% of the shareholding wasn't going to be enough and wanted it all. Also, it's a little disengenuous to say that other shareholders put in nothing. The very fans, whose small shareholdings were demanded, put in a heck of a lot of money/value through purchases, donations, crowdfunding, time etc....on top of the money they paid for shares in the first instance.

The deal done with previous directors to write off loans, hand over shares and sell back the carparks is the same deal that was on the table in August 2024....so yes, it could have been that simple.

Do you really think paying off Ferguson would have been worse than the cost, damage, and pain of administration?

And to think, if Savage had accepted the same offer many months prior instead of making a grab for the 100% shareholding, then we could have managed it all without the pain of administration.

True that...1111 is odd, whereas 1000 isn't 🤷‍♂️

For the level we're at just now.... there's not a team in this league who'd lay a glove on Raven, Meekings, Warren & Tremarco....but it's also unlikely they'd have been playing for a League 1 ICTFC (I'd not play Shinnie in defense, thought he was better further forward)

The 5pt in the second season is to try and deter clubs from using admin as an 'easy' option to wipe debt...e.g. if they're 15+ points clear of relegation, they trigger admin, wipe the debt and start clean the following season. For me the whole administration thing is a poor system, and not just for football clubs. The number of businesses that go into admin, then the same owners (or relatives/friends) buy it on the cheap and keep going, is ridiculous. The only 'fair' way to do it in football, IMO, is for any club entering administration to be dropped to the bottom of the pyramid and effectively have to start again.

Can't remember the last time I bought myself a shirt, but this has me very tempted. I like that they've paired it with black shorts and socks. (i don't have the legs for either of those)

It's a classic/safe design, and with all that's been going on the last few years it probably wasn't the time for anything bold or potentially polarising....even though the "marmite" designs have always proven to be the better sellers. I don't wear football shirts, even with my new svelte(r) physique, but I'm sure it will be popular enough among my nieces and nephews for them all to want one.

Pictures by Trevor Martin Photography

I've been guilty of using the 'soft penalty' description in the past, but just questioned myself over it because if it's a penalty, it's a penalty. How hard or soft it is only really matters in regard to what, if any, cards may accompany it.

Sounds like a bit of a reality check given the great start to the season. I can't comment on the game as I wasn't there, but it will do no harm for players to be reminded that more is needed than just showing up, and/or fans need to be reminded that sometimes you're on top in games, play well, and still lose. If we were a dozen games into the season and making the same mistake over and over, I'd be worried....but we're not, and we haven't. Frustrating....yes. Worrying....no. On the subject of refs. They can absolutely spoil games, but I don't believe they are in any way corrupt or biased*. No real excuse, but we also need to remember that we're not getting the highest rated refs at this level. *If you want to see what corrupt/biased officiating looks like, watch 'Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul' on Netflix.

Belief is back 😊

They may have agreed to it because it's better, financially, for both teams if it draws a larger crowd at our place.

Squad depth has been an issue for a few seasons now, so making 10 changes and still having a team on the park that looks strong is testament to the work done building the squad for this campaign... especially as we were late in getting started. Knowing we have a pool of 20+ players, all of whom could be in the starting XI will keep the opposition thinking (and players working hard to keep their spot) ...then add in the fact we have goals coming from several outlets as well...all gives us a little extra edge. I was thinking it would have been easy to throw on Longstaff and Wotherspoon at HT last night, but we held our nerve and showed belief in those on the pitch. I also don't think there would have been any rollickings or rockets at HT. All the additional games is a double edged sword. Increased risk of injury and fatigue, but also opportunity for us to give more players game time and get them comfortable with squad rotation.

I think the SFA/SPFL are sitting in much hotter heats when coming up with some of this stuff 🤣

Yes, it is mandatory. Withdrawing without permission, or what would be deemed a valid reason (no lost of reasons is given), would leave the club liable to sanctions, including compensation to the opponent team for any lost revenue and/or other incurred costs. Can also be banned from entering the following season.

Could have kept it as Sarens PSG Caledonian Stadium...at least then there's continuity and maintained identity.

It won't be far off free. I recall sitting in a club meeting at Hampden discussing a proposed deal with BBC Alba, and making the point that clubs would lose more money from the deal than they would be paying for the rights to show games. For the Astra euros game, the club had the rights to sell coverage...BBC initially offered us £600 for radio rights...and wanted exclusive coverage 😂 There's next to nothing in TV deals for clubs. However, the SPFL can, and do, remove income from clubs to the central pot and then claim they are growing income fir the league....utter BS. The centralised YouTube thing they did a few years back is another example. ALL clubs had to send highlights to the SPFL fir the centralised channel. This meant they weren't getting income from own channels and it resulted in NO increased revenue from the league pot. The sad thing is, that most clubs were/are blind to the fact that agreeing to it is/was cutting their own throats.

I think I've posted this elsewhere fairly recently, but I can understand (even if I disagree with) the decision not to send a production crew up here as it's expensive to do....and the previous club operators also removed nearly all of the infrastructure (camera towers etc), which also adds to the cost. Home games on TV can significantly impact club income, so it's no financial loss. Also, the last I was aware, there's no additional income for appearing on TV as used to be the case.

Sounds a lot like the kind of thinking that put us where we are now.

Bonus present....

A score to forget, but a performance to learn from. Raith entirely worthy of the win, but it wasn't a 5-1 performance from either side. We were quick out of the blocks and Alonge could have opened the scoring. The double from Raith knocked the stuffing out of the defence and they looked lacking in confidence and were making silly mistakes from there on. This seemed to spread throughout the team and everything just felt a bit disjointed. We had chances and 'on another day' might have lessened the pain. Honestly think after losing the two quick goals we panicked and any game plan suffered from that. A painful lesson, but not ine I'm overly concerned with. Lot of new players, not as much experience as we might like, and a lot of pressure with our new owner building expectations of promotion this season.