CaleyD

It's being referred to as a bonus, but apparently it's actually a severance payment. There has always been allowance for such a payment in the contracts, but the fuss seems to be that Longmuir (and possibly Ballantyne) increased the level of payment due in the contract without telling the rest of the SFL Board. If true, then apart from being morally questionable given that they knew the SFL's day were numbered, what kind of setup allows two people to change their contracts for self benefit without it needing sign off from elsewhere? Especially hypocritical when you consider there was an expectation that the SPFL would pay it and Longmuir's favourite line when dealing with the SPL over reconstruction was "Due Diligence" as he was worried about any surprise liabilities coming from the other side. As I said, if true, then this is not incompetence, it's corruption and he shouldn't even be considered for the CEO position at the SPFL. Also, as a bit of a side point.... My understanding is that the SPL (as a company) is remaining in place and just being rebranded and restructured into the SPFL. If that's the case then there's no position to be filled as Doncaster is the CEO of that company. Surely they can't just ask someone to reapply for their own job in that manner?

Not quite as it seems that nobody other than Longmuir and Ballantyne knew about this "Bonus". http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/reconstruction-talks-disrupted-bumper-bonus-2014841 Also some chat going round that Ballantyne is in line for a similar pay-off and that it was only added in to the contracts of both men in the last few weeks.

Apt that he should sign for The Blades. Glad someone got it

Oscar Pistorious is to get a game for Sheffield Utd.

Improving his fitness levels was certainly something he tried to work hard at, whether their was any underlying, or suspected underlying, health issue or not I have no idea.

That's actually want I meant about Roberts....although reading back what I wrote it's not what I said.

2nd

Not everyone matures at the same rate. Part of the trouble with bringing players through these days is that if they don't break through before they're 18 or 19 then they're thrown on the scrap heap. For every Philip Roberts, there's a Draper or a Warren who don't develop and realise potential until they're a few years older.

I think "wimp" is maybe a bit harsh. As I've said before, I think he was just lacking a little bit of that arrogance/self belief that's needed in a player when they are on the park. Also, let's not forget that he is still a young lad, having only just turned 19 in April, and had no "first team" football prior to coming on loan to us.

Feckin hell, never saw Andrew Shinnie getting 'stuck' in very much, and were we glad to have him last season. You dont have to get stuck in (which he actially did), he scored tons So you are dismissing my opinion. I have been watching football for nearly 60 years , I have run junior teams and been a ref. I think I know a good player when I see one This guy lacks a lot of what it takes I pretty much dismiss your opinion on everything. This whole "I'm older and therefore must be right and must be respected" attitude that you have is about as condescending and arrogant as it gets. You're not one of these old boys that sits behind the home dugout foaming at the mouth all season are you? If not, you should go over and introduce yourself because these guys think they know more about football than everyone else as well, you'd fit right in. I'm actually surprised that with 60 years of watching football, coaching and refereeing that we've never heard about you before....does the footballing world know what they've missed out on by letting you slip through the net? Maybe it's not too late and we could replace Butcher with your good self before the start of the season...if only you had made yourself and your experience known to us sooner!!!

There's a range of new merchandise for the upcoming season, including Goalie Kit. It can be viewed in the shop at present and the club hope to have photos done shortly so it can be added to the online shop.

More than a little unfair. ICT have ZERO debt and any loans in recent years have been provided to assist with cash flow, not to fill gaps between income and expenditure. Monies over and above that have been invested and contributors have received shares and/or services in return....much the same as happens in any business. Whilst football doesn't generally offer any return by way of dividend payments, it does offer a higher degree of community "good will" than you would get in just about any other (for profit) industry I can think of and that in itself holds value. Many other clubs would be satisfied with that situation...i.e. they can balance the books at the end of each financial year...however ICT don't appear to have settled for that. Terry Butcher had the playing budget reduced by £300k last season. Based on the PWC figures and our turnover then that would equate to somewhere between 20% & 25% of his previous budget. The sum is also slightly more than the £250k (ish) additional investment that was required annually to balance the books. This would look like a major step towards the clubs desire to replace the £1 Million (or there abouts) we had in the bank prior to being relegated. It's also very prudent when we don't yet know exactly what the situation is in regards league income for the upcoming season. If we can continue to secure investment year on year then that speeds up the process of putting money back in the bank, if not then there should still be enough room for the club to have an excess to allow it to happen anyway and/or to absorb any reduced league income (should that occur) without the need for any further drastic cuts. Not owning the stadium and having sold other assets is unfortunate and not a situation I like/d or a course of action I ever agreed with...but it is what it is. I don't know if we'll ever own our stadium again or not, but I do know that it's far more likely to happen with the club being run as it is now than it ever has been.

The quote that is being attributed to Curtis Allen is that Swansea had "shown interest"....no more, no less.

Apprentice contract (or whatever they're called these days).

Thankfully the SFA AGM has binned this proposal.

Cases are failing on what seems like an almost daily basis and the Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation is already proving to be as ineffective as many predicted it would be in terms of securing a conviction. Courts are finding that they can't even convict those who have clearly acted with discriminatory intent because the legislation is such a load of nonsense. The point I always try to make though...you don't need to be convicted by the court for something like this to screw you up, especially if you are younger fan. Cases can take months to come to court and you try getting a job, university place, apprenticeship, visa to holiday in some countries, clear disclosure check etc with such a charge hanging over your head!!! It's a situation which shouldn't exist, but it does and people wishing to take a stand (in whatever form they choose) should not do so blindly or with total disregard for the potential consequences and effects that it might have....guilt or not.

All the info is in the online shop - http://ictfc.com/commercial/store?page=shop.browse&category_id=6

"The Builder" hasn't had any direct connection to the club for quite some time...either as a member of the board or as a major shareholder. Do you really believe that Don? It's not a matter of belief, it's a matter of fact.

Entering into very dangerous territory whereby the football associations are trying to the job that should be getting taken care of by the law. I'd also imagine that unless there's a conviction in the courts then they, SFA/UEFA, would be treading on thin ice by branding any club/individual "racist" or whatever by enforcing the regulations. As with all of these half assed attempts at dealing with problems of racism, sectarianism etc. it will fall to those at the coal front to enforce it and in an attempt to pay lip service to the legislation they will go after easy/soft targets whilst the real trouble makers continue to do as they please. It should not impact on ICT or Ross C*unty in any way shape or form as what passes between fans of both clubs is banter with no evidence to suggest or back up a case for discrimination.

I don't know exactly who has or has not been considered beyond those which have been given deals. You asked why young players in Scotland weren't being given the same chance and I provided an explanation. I don't necessarily agree with it, but I do understand it. Like it, or not, we have a very finite budget and the club need to operate in a way that delivers the most they can from that....and so far it seems to be moving the club in the right direction, both on the park and on the balance sheet. ICT don't set the rules on paying player development fees (or not) in Scotland or cross-border...they can only operate within the rules and systems dictated by the SFA, UEFA & FIFA. Sadly, it's unrealistic to expect us to be able to compete for the most promising of youngsters available in Scotland (unless we unearth a gem from our own youth system). It's a smaller market which means the pickings are slimmer and any potential talent is picked up by teams who can either offer better wages/terms and/or can afford to pay a fee (or they cross-borders in the other direction) or they have the finances to take more of a punt by signing them sooner. My understanding is that an out of contract under 24 in Scotland will still generate the need for a development fee if they have been offered a deal by existing club and then move to another Scottish club, although one being freed will not....but if they are being freed, then are they really going to be of a quality required? Not to mention the fact that you have to wait until they are actually released before you can even talk to them to avoid the development fee scenario...and as that doesn't happen until end of May (or later) then you are adding in the additional risk of sitting on your hands till then and potentially missing out on the kind of players we have signed the last couple of seasons. I'm no stranger when it comes to suggesting a conspiracy, but it really is going some to ignore all of the above and cast about accusations of racism as being the reason the club operates as it does when it comes to signing policy!

Goes on sale tomorrow...same price as current kit, £40 Adult & £35 Kids

As I have highlighted numerous times before..... If ICT were to sign a player under the age of 24 from another club in Scotland then they would have to pay a development fee. Such fees do not exist on cross-border transfers. These fees can vary, but even if it was as little as £25k for each, then 7 young players are going to cost £175k in fees alone....that's about £3365 a week in wages over a year....equivalent to about 10 young players if they're getting £300/£400 per week.....or 3 signings instead of 7.

The use of "Home & Away" is actually outdated as they are now viewed as First Choice and Change kits. Both clubs should wear the first choice kit where there's no clash in colours. Where there's a clash then the visiting team should wear the change kit. Where the change kit also clashes then the home club should wear their change kit. Where no combination of first or change kits can create enough distinction between teams then a second change kit comes in to play...for that reason I imagine we will keep the old away kit registered in case such an instance should arise. So following the above process, then for games against C*unty they would need to wear their change (away) kit....even if they're at home.

Black with pinstripes...reckon I'll look about 50lbs lighter when wearing it, so it gets the thumbs up from me.

http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/942-double-bonus-for-ict