CaleyD

Any of the versions I've heard on YouTube are pretty terrible audio quality.

Sent you a PM

I'd let him go on a free....or for a nominal fee. Clubs like ours can get into real trouble by having ideas above their station. We don't need top 6 finishes to survive on the current business model, and we certainly don't need the financial burden of qualifying for Europe. We could get a striker on a lower wage who is capable of ensuring we survive in the top flight and the money saved could be used for other things.

Because you claimed I had no background in business or economics!!! BTW, no need for you to give me yours....I've already conducted my due diligence in that regard.

Maybe I'm not qualified to recognise a "Whooosh"!

It gets better and better

Oh, come on Dragan. Surely someone as knowledgeable as yourself, with such a superior intellect, doesn't have to resort to cheap attempts at put downs and school boy insults. Put some of that superior economic acumen into action and make a proper case as to why the offer to Hearts fans is, as you claim, bad business. You're being judged by the masses here. If you are going to step in and save the club and fans from themselves then this is an ideal opportunity for you to highlight why Kenny Cameron, and those who support his decision to implement the Hearts offer, have got it so wrong. Put me in my place and show me why my background in financial services and business analysis just isn't enough. I'm clearly missing some key issue whereby attracting more people through the turnstiles does not equate to more money in the clubs pocket....and at a ratio of more than 3:1 compared with what is being offered to Hearts fans, and doing so whilst protecting the normal average income from the fixture. P.S. I didn't try and "beat you down", you claimed I "clearly have not got any background in business or economics" and I merely corrected you. Out of interest, what do you believe makes you more qualified than the teachers, accountants, business owners and those capable of simple mathematics who you've put down in the last couple of days?

I've been trying to get my hands on a clean copy of "Bring it on Home" for years....most of the copies doing the rounds are either incomplete, poorly copied or have other noise over/under layed onto it. If anyone has the cassette and is willing to let me borrow it to get a copy (or can pull me off a decent copy themselves) then I'm at every game and the stadium most days. In return I'll look into making it available as an "official" MP3 download from the club website (copyright permissions etc. permitting).

The joys of being a simple forum member....I finally get the option to put the constantly negative doom and gloom merchants on ignore. Had to give myself a bit of a shake at the end of the game for daring to feel in any way disappointed at going to Celtic Park and only coming away with a point. Was their things we could have done better?...yes, but that can be said of any game regardless of the result. The only "error" that comes to mind is not clearing the danger that resulted in their first goal. However, I qualify that by adding that we have been playing the ball out of defence and causing teams real trouble on the counter all season and I'd rather we stuck to that as the default than hoofing everything. If we get caught now and again, then so be it...so long as it benefits us more than it costs us over the season. Rather amusing that the (what should have bee) penalty incident seems to have been quickly glossed over by a lot of the pundits and reporters. Some of the excuses I've heard for it not being given are even more hilarious....paraphrasing here, but you'll get the gist.... "He couldn't give the penalty, because if he did it would also have been a red card" "Doran was obviously looking to be fouled, so he can't expect a penalty when it happens" "It's a contact sport, you have to accept a bit of rough and tumble and the ref can't give penalties for every foul in the box" "It would have been unfair on Celtic as they still had a chance to get back into the game at that point" "If he'd taken his shot earlier then van Dijk wouldn't have had a chance to foul him" "It was a soft foul" The idea that a foul in the box, regardless of who/when/why, should be a penalty seems like an alien concept to some people. With regards pundits and reporters...I think they're suffering from not knowing what to talk about when they can't spend hours and column inches praising Celtic. Unfortunately it doesn't show it on any of the highlights, but the linesman had his flag half way up for the penalty and then changed his mind. Overall I thought it was a great performance from us. I've been raving all through pre-season and the start of the league campaign about how versatile our starting 11 are and they showed that on Saturday. To be able to adapt so well without the need for changes in personnel will only breed confidence and consistency as the season progresses. Good to see Watkins get some game time at the end...for those who've not seen him yet, you're in for a treat when he gets a proper run out. He has this ingrained belief that he can go past anyone and everyone....and from what I witnessed in pre-season, the ability to back that up.

Not including Feb 8th 2000....the fans on Saturday were the loudest I have heard at Celtic Park. Couldn't really see you from where I was sitting, but no trouble at all in hearing you.

£400k (give or take) for NIculae If I was ICT I'd take whatever we can get for Mckay right now. It's clear that on current form he's only going to manage to secure us a European spot and that'll just end up costing us money in the long run. Best to get rid before we get ourselves into that kind of trouble!!! Best to get rid! You are having a laugh. 4 games into the season and you proposing to "GET RID" of our treasured striker. You would take whatever we could get!!!!!! A phrase that includes the words "What planet?" springs to mind. Whoooshh!!!!!!!

Your post lacks cohesion and clarity. What are you trying to say? No matter how much you bleat my opinion will not change. We have great board who apply a great deal of dilligence to the governance of our team. Our role should not be to help finance Heart's successes of the past few years. It is none of our business. Have you conducted due dilligence on this organisation that you are proposing to finance. Do you even know who they are? You clearly have not got any background in business or economics. Oh and BTW at no time, despite your inaccurate point, have I made an "economic evaluation" of any offer. My evaluation is of a binary nature and it is that I would give then nothing! Nothing at all! No economic evaluation required Oh Wise One You should have just said "I'd rather see ICT cut off their nose to spite their face" then everyone would have understood your stance on the matter.

Your post lacks cohesion and clarity. What are you trying to say? No matter how much you bleat my opinion will not change. We have great board who apply a great deal of dilligence to the governance of our team. Our role should not be to help finance Heart's successes of the past few years. It is none of our business. Have you conducted due dilligence on this organisation that you are proposing to finance. Do you even know who they are? You clearly have not got any background in business or economics. 1. The offer protects ICT's financial position as income from the average visiting club is ring-fenced. i.e. no split of income will be offered from the first 650 tickets. 2. The club will benefit to the tune of £15 for every additional (full paying) Hearts fan that attends as a result of the offer. 3. Your claims that this somehow supports a corrupt regime are unfounded. 4. Yes, as a matter of fact I did do some due diligence on the 1874 Fighting Fund...maybe you should too before digging yourself a deeper hole. 5. Qualified as a Financial Consultant aged 18, held position as Senior Compliance Auditor, Senior Risk Management Officer, Head Analyst (Change Management), Project Manager (Change Management)...all for a major banking group. Does that count as having a sufficient background in business or economics to allow me to comment on this subject?

£400k (give or take) for NIculae If I was ICT I'd take whatever we can get for Mckay right now. It's clear that on current form he's only going to manage to secure us a European spot and that'll just end up costing us money in the long run. Best to get rid before we get ourselves into that kind of trouble!!!

Dragan, you have posted elsewhere that fans should be doing more to take control of their clubs and having a say in how they are run....this seems to be in stark contrast to your comments and views on this thread. ICT have protected their own financial position by ring-fencing the income from the average visiting Hearts support and are making a donation to a fans group who are helping to keep their club operating while another fans driven organisation attempts to find a way for their club to continue. Nothing at all in any of that is damaging ICT....quite the opposite. There's also no hint of supporting those responsible for Hearts getting into the position they have, nor is it supporting a return to a regime who are likely to run the club in similar fashion in the future (should they survive)....in fact, it's not supporting any of the groups looking to make a bid to take over the club. Not only is your economic evaluation of the offer clearly wrong, your moral evaluation also seems to suffering somewhat as well.

I absolutely think that the ICT fans should be getting carried away....make the best of the here and now, shout from the rooftops about how well we're doing, let nobody play down what we've done so far and what we're capable of doing going forward. Things could change at any time, and I for one will not have any regrets for failing to enjoy it while it lasts.

The ICT Supporters Society Ltd (aka Caley Jags Together) hold a 10% non-dilutable voting right + 10,000 shares. As you're up to speed on the business (ICT), then you will already appreciate the rights that affords them. Perhaps the best thing would be for the people you've been speaking with to touch base with the Supporters Society with a view to building on that and the existing relationship that exists between them and the club.

How is that scenario any different to games being played in the afternoon midweek? You could play the game at 10am and they'd still need to take a whole day off. The point about floodlights is spot on. That's fairy snuff actually...lol. I did have an argument about only disrupting one day instead of two...but it was BS...you got me fair and square!

I believe, although I've not seen anything "official", that the mandate from the SPFL is that all games must now be played in the evening. If true then it's a ridiculous decision on so many fronts.... It's perfectly feasible...likely for most clubs...that some of the players in these teams will still be of school/college age. Meaning that for an away fixture to central belt (or one of them coming up here) they won't be home until around midnight.....that's if they can secure the time off from classes to allow them to travel in the first place. And the wonder why clubs struggle to bring through young players? It also means that, as we have a winter league, then clubs will be forced into the extra expense of running floodlights for these matches. Other clubs charge an entry fee to help offset these costs and it would be understandable if ICT found themselves having to (reluctantly) do the same.

As was clarified by the Chairman, and has been mentioned before, if Caley Thistle were (by some miracle) drawn against Barcelona in a Europa/Champions League (qualifying/group) match, then TCS already has the necessary license (under current regulations) required to host the home leg of such a tie. All other matters in regards to suitability are nothing more than opinion.

6pm Kick-Off and the game is at TCS As far as I'm aware there's no cost for entry (never has been at TCS in the past).

I've spoken to a few people who are not renewing season tickets purely on the basis that with so many changes for TV they don't know if they'll get value from them. They'll still attend as many games as they can and there's every chance the club will get the same amount of money from them (perhaps even a bit more). In saying that, I've spoken to far more who have renewed and some who are getting season tickets for the first time...or returning to get a season ticket after not having one for a season or more. As has been pointed out several times, our attendances as a % of catchment area is actually pretty high...which does leave you wondering what the realistic target should be in the current economy? Another problem is that while it's great to discuss things on forums etc. those conversations are had among people who, for the most part, are doing all they can to support to the club/team. These are not the people that need convincing and the challenge is to get talking to and convincing those who are not yet a part of things. I'm also of the opinion that once a person reaches the age of about 16, if you've not "captured" them as a fan, then it becomes uneconomical to try and convert them. On that basis I think the club are doing the right thing by making it more affordable for the next generation...or for parents to bring along the next generation. The free season tickets for U12's scheme, getting out into the schools, making free tickets available to them and other youth groups...is the way to go. It's not going to put any significant additional money in the pot in the near future, but (again, IMO) it is a better investment than discounting etc for older fans. I'd like the U12's scheme to be extended up to the age of U16 as I feel there's a risk of losing future (paying) fans as 12 to 16 is a very influential age and is probably key to breaking any peer pressure that might exist with going off to "support" one of the big teams who's grounds they may never visit in their life. Get them in the habit of going to games right through to the age of 16 when they might then start earning....have an affordable 16-18 ticket category and then start leading in to adult prices from there up (making allowance for students etc). I say that in full appreciation of the fact that the club appear to have now found a healthy balance with how the club operates financially and that every layer of charging they strip out is essentially money out of their pocket and has to be carefully considered. With any luck what they are doing now will prove the concept and we pick up a few extra paying adults bringing along kids (for free) and that allows for the idea to be extended. What does anger and frustrate me is "fans" who try to scam the club by cheating on these schemes. Again, this is something the club has been working on improving over the last 2 or 3 seasons and those who were taking the p*ss (e,g, adults, sometimes groups of adults, with phantom kids buying seats in the family area) are, and continue to be, weeded out. One thing is for certain....there's no quick fix. There's also only so much that is directly in the clubs control and the SFA/SPFL need to start adopting policies which are designed to help clubs increase crowds, whilst removing policies which hinder. They also need more by the way of national campaigns and initiatives, using the power of the many instead of just leaving each club to it's own devices with everyone doing something different and no overall master plan.

You can have all the good ideas in the world, but if you don't have the resource to action them then they are worthless. On that basis, it would also be good if some of these people were willing to offer a bit of practical hands on assistance as well.

Doesn't impact on TV revenue at all. Money from the tv contracts for the league goes into the main pot which is then divied up based on league position. The only additional TV revenue to be had is from cup games. My ideal scenario would be no live domestic football...i.e. no live Scottish League/Cup games shown in Scotland. I think that would offer a decent compromise between encouraging people to get off their butts and along to matches and generating a bit of TV income as well.

http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/993-ticket-info-august-2014