CaleyD

I wasn't passing judgment, I was highlighting that the current crop coming through are the product of a system that has been in place for a number of years and not a result of anything that has happened or been in place more recently. As you quite rightly point out, the time to judge the current setup will be in the future, although I suspect a couple more seasons is generous as those coming through for the next 4 to 6 years will still be inherited from the previous system. Some credit has to be given to Robbo for choosing youth players, but let's not forget that it will be largely due to necessity....again, time will tell on whether or not it's a setup that delivers the promised push for a return to the Premiership.

From memory, it has been suggested at previous AGMs that the cost of the clubs Youth Setup was around 10% of turnover....in the last couple of years in the premiership that would have put it at about £350k to £400k. Less than the (rumoured) fee we got for Christie.....a lot less if/when Celtic sell him and there's a kick back from that. As with many things, it's not the what's being done that is cause for concern, its the "how". We got rid of Big Dunc when relegated because we couldn't afford a development coach, but we've now brought in 3 coaches to do the job he was doing. It should be noted that the success with the youths is not a new thing, it is not the result of anything that's been done by the current board or any of the 3 new coaches who were brought in. Those success came from how things were running previously and under the very capable hand of Fiona, Ronnie and the coaches the oversaw (Charlie Christie has always been little more than a public face for PR purposes, with very little hands on coaching). I had limited involvement with Project Brave stuff when at the club, but my understanding was that it would only increase the costs if we wanted to hit Elite Level....which we haven't. Any additional cost is entirely of our own making. I'm not against additional investment in the area, but money could have been spent giving additional support to what was there (and working) instead of creating more jobs for the boys!

They didn't miss the Meekings incident, they saw it and judged it as not deliberate or meriting any action.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion or to moan....even if others disagree or think it unjustified. What people are not entitled to be is abusive, and it's clear that many don't understand the difference between the two. Those who try to pass off abuse as criticism don't get it. Those who, when taking a stance against the abusers, also lump in those who partake in a bit of moaning/critique also don't get it. They are far from the same thing, so let's not paint everyone with the same brush and portray the issue of abusive fans as being any bigger than it is. One abusive fans is too many, but by blurring the lines we do little to foster support from the vast majority (including the "moaners") who are appalled by such behaviour.

Posted this elsewhere, but will repeat it here..... Best thing people who witnessed the abuse being given out today can do is name/point out those responsible to ICTFC. Throwing abuse at them in response is only stooping to their level....be the better fan ?

I've heard this case made a few times over the years and it's one made purely on direct income....no credit is ever given to it's value as a marketing/PR/communication tool. We'll spend thousands on marketing companies/consultants etc but baulk at the idea of losing a few quid producing a programme. Very shortsighted, IMO.

Why is everyone worried about Shankland? All his goals came at a lower level and there's nothing in his career to date to show he is prolific at any higher level!

Teams outside the Premier League can sign unregistered players and loans until the end of August. He's not going to be an EPL target, and if any other club wants him then all Ayr have to do is come to a private agreement with the player to terminate his contract...he's then free to sign south of the border and use his signing bonus to pay whatever it cost to get out of his Ayr contract ?

Great start...and keeps us above C*unty ?

Angus Beith is #8

Absolutely not and I enjoy reading the views of others when it comes to talk on tactics etc....just not my bag. Anyone who'd ever read one of my match reports will attest to that ?

Plans to make this game have been thwarted. Robbo and his coaching staff are infinitely more qualified than me to decide on the selection and formation most likely to bring a result, so I'll make no comment on that. All I'm looking for is that the players give the best possible account of themselves....can never ask for any more from them than that. COME ON THE CALEY THISTLE!!!!

I have spoken with the CEO, but she's on holiday and unable to meet until she returns.

I have made (more than one) request to the club, the last one directly to the CEO, for them to provide us with squad and fixture information needed to keep the pages up to date (we keep it up to date for here and the official site)....and we've still had nothing from them.

After selling Adult Walk Up (and Season Ticket) prices to us last year on the basis of a promotion push; I find it quite incredulous that they have now sold us those prices this year on the basis of doing fans a favour by not having increased them....with no acknowledgement they are still, effectively, charging premiership prices for championship football. If Robbo has cut over £1 Million from the player budget, then where is the evidence that the additional fans money is being used to support a push for promotion? As I said before, every statement raises more questions than it provides answers...that's not an indication of good communication, let alone the promised transparency we were told could be expected. Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.

Sorted ?

From the article, you need to have a season ticket to get the free U12 season tickets. Clearly, our preference is that supporters commit to purchasing a Season Ticket. One of the benefits for those with a Season Ticket in the North Stand is that they can buy two Season Tickets for Under 12s free of charge.

Club have scrapped free walk-up tickets for U12s this season ? https://ictfc.com/news/club-news/2258-get-behind-your-team

So why the Celtic tattoo?

The problem is, and it's not a new thing or specific to ICTFC, that the vast majority of those sitting on club boards don't have a clue what's important to fans. There's a dangerous combination of ignorance and arrogance which drives them to believe that they know, without having ever asked, what people should want...when they actually don't even know what they want themselves. I've said already that the studies I have seen and partaken in demonstrate that winning is low on the list of priorities and last nights result against Fort William proves that....is there really much (long term) enjoyment in results like that? If it was all about the winning every week we'd all be wearing green and white hoops! In regards the last paragraph, there's evidence to suggest that fans aren't as tuned in to what they want either. What we strive for is success, but as I said already, if that was the most important factor we'd all be following other teams. I'm the kid who always asks why...I was lucky to have had parents, an education and strength of character to maintain it. Others find it irritating because they were told, and learned to accept, "just because" as an answer...not me...and it's something that is most useful in situations like this. If clubs want to understand what fans want/need...and fans want to understand themselves...then the easiest way is to adopt the use of the "5 Whys Technique". Google it, then try it on yourself starting with the question "Why do I go to watch ICTFC?" And see where it takes you.

Don't forget the darts!

We could all sit and surmise as to what it might have been spent on....but that discussion just raises further questions, like why are they quick to tell us where they are making savings, but not so quick (in fact not at all) telling us where costs have increased? Every time a statement is released it raises more questions than answers.

That's not my point though, my point is that if your income drops by £1.2M...and you make cuts of £1.1M then your shortfall is only £100k.....if you've had investment of £900k, then the financial position should be pretty good. I don't have the accounts to hand, but there was a healthy chunk of money in the bank account at the end of the last financial year as well, so unless costs have increased elsewhere we should be sitting on circa £1M. Why then is the Chairman stating that more money is needed? Something doesn't add up!!

The financials talked about in that statement don't add up. Financial implications A second season in the Championship has implications for the way we must run the club. We estimate the loss of income this season was £1.2 million through smaller gates, fewer visiting supporters, the absence of television monies and reduced prizemoney. In the coming season, our parachute payment will be reduced from £300,000 to £150,000 and we no longer qualify for the UEFA payment for Celtic reaching the Champions League stage – a payment of £374,000. So the challenges are even greater. More than £900,000 has been injected into the club and more is needed. It is clear we need a more sustainable business model. And significant savings are being made to all aspects of the operation in order to better balance income against expenditure. We're told that income reduced by £1.2 Million...which is a figure I am familiar with. John Robertson has said that he has trimmed £1.1 million from the playing budget....if true, then that pretty much takes care of the drop in income. We've had £900k injected and MORE IS NEEDED!!! Take off the 100k difference between what Robbo's cut from the playing budget and the reduced income and we should be sitting on £800k (that doesn't include the money we had in the bank at the end of the last financial year). If we're needing more, and are to believe the figures being given....then what have be spent circa £1 Million on? Someone is either telling porkies, or we're haemorrhaging money at an alarming rate on....what?

Previous catering company have not had contract renewed, so there will be some inevitable changes. Believe we have retained the services of the person that was running it on behalf of the previous company.