CaleyD

Cowie just has to look like he's actually trying tomorrow and that will be an "extra special" performance when compared to what he's been doing of late.

I am genuinely concerned for the ICT fans attending the Rangers game on Sunday. OF matches are generally a more highly charged event, especially when the Home Stands are riddled with OF supporters and with the current mood of the ICT Support I don't think it would take too much for things to tip over into a physical encounter as opposed to the normally restrained verbal exchanges which might be witnessed. It doesn't take much to kick these things off, but I know that whilst I would never instigate a physical fight with anyone, if I witnessed another ICT fan in trouble I would not hesitate to wade in and assist, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that. I would hope that the club are also aware of this and will be taking extra precautions when admitting fans to the home end, but I'm not holding my breathe given how clueless they seem to be in regards what's happening right under their noses at ICT. So, I urge every fan to ignore any Rangers fans among them, or to report them to the Stewards. Please, do not try and take matters into your own hands. If you wish to protest about the manager, then keep your protest to that and do not be drawn into anything else. Being a normally restrained support might be viewed by some as our weakness and why the club feel the can walk all over us, but we are better than that and the last thing we want/need is to be reading headlines about ICT fan arrests and it being spun as out of control protests in regards to Brewster's removal as manager.

You know things are getting really bad when the only defence that can be offered is the sympathy card....poor hard done by Brewster, can't attract players, can't afford new ones...Makes you wonder how we ever managed to get out of Div 3 !!!

Let's bring in IHE to fill the gap.

OK, following Steves' response....I stand corrected

Actually, I believe Charlie Christie did bring one in - can remember Graham Bayne mentioning it in the papers. Was that not a "Sports Scientist" who was working with him on personalised training/fitness plans? If not, then I'll happily stand corrected.

I don't no for sure but here's a number of reasons why ICT MAY be joint bottom with 2 other teams, other than anything to do with the management. One of the poorest financial teams in the SPL (lose players to clubs offering more money) - That's why we're giving Brewster an increased Budget for January then? Players from central scotland are more likely to sign for Falkirk etc than ICT due to travelling - We've proved that we're capable of better with the players we have (had) so signings have little to do with current situation. ICT support is one of the least noisest in the SPL (and when there is noise it's usually negative) - Nonsense, crowds are quiet all over the SPL, and only recently have the ICT crowd become in any way negative. ICT have very poor training facilities - No better or worse than they have been since 1994, and it's never hindered progress in the past!! Last season ICT relased their full time fitness coach from the club - And replaced them with Brewster, who's abilities as a Fitness Coach are not in doubt and probably considered to be among the best available!!! ICT don't employ a sport psychologist full time like other clubs - Again, they never have....why would they all of a sudden need one now (apart from the fact that the Manager is destroying their confidence of course) The team are in a transitional period of giving youngsters a chance - with time they will improve - Are these the youngsters who have been performing better than some others yet are being left on thebench? And remember a couple of defeats and ICT may still be at worst joint bottom with other teams... a couple of wins and then they will have breathing space. I was tempted to answer you with a simple "Clutching at straws" response, but thought I would go into more detail (responses highlighted in red).

He/She was right about the move, just got the club wrong (although to their credit Rangers were also sniffing around at the time). With regards DP, if I was him I wouldn't be jumping ship to go to a club in serious risk of relegation when I was in a perfectly good job at the moment.

The hurdle, as stated by others, is the fact that the club don't appear to be at all interested in appointing Robbo. But if this is true, and they are ignoring it, then they (the club) are more foolish than I thought.

I wouldn't be too upset with Robbo and Pressley as his assistant. The other wee niggly thing that's adding weight to my suspicion over the Pressley thing is that a certain person involved with appointing playing/coaching staff at ICT has a leaning towards Celtic and I've heard talk in the past that he's always wanted a "Celtic Man" at the helm. Again, this is just speculation....but I've got a really uneasy feeling about it all.

As I said already, I do think this is the club manoeuvring to bring in another cheap/easy option for manager. The last thing we need at the moment is rookie/untested manager who doesn't know the squad and as much as I think Pressley could help plug our defensive deficiencies it worries me no end that the club could be lining him up for the managers job if/when we get gubbed on Sunday.

Just been on TalkSport that Pressley is heading back to Scotland and that he has an offer from ICT. Info is second hand, so if anyone can clarify/confirm/deny then it would be appreciated.

Never mind Sutherland, am still trying to work out which one I am!!!!

Keep up :thumb04:

People are heading in to very dangerous territory with claims of what someone may or may not have said whilst drunk or otherwise. The thread is under review by the moderation staff, in the meantime I would remind you that it is the individual poster who is responsible for what they say and not the site or those who operate it. So if saying anything then I hope you are certain of your facts and, if need be, you can prove them.

I share that very same fear PiG, this stinks of some playmaking on the part of the Board to try and get themselves out of this mess without having to invest in someone with at least some experience in management. I can see it now, Pressley comes in and calms the "we need a sold centre back" shouts of the fans, we get humped on Sunday and Brewster is sacked/walks and he (Pressley) gets the caretakers job till the end of the season with Shearer by his side, or even a role reversal....at which point his deal is extended if we survive and cut short if we don't. The excuse for not looking elsewhere for a manager will be that we spent available funds in the Transfer Window and simply can't afford to pay compensation to bring an experienced manager in. And all the while John Robertson, who is available immediately and who we wouldn't have to pay compensation for is overlooked. The Board are playing a very dangerous game in order to try and save face and cover their erses, and worst of all, they think we're stupid enough so as not to see right through it.

Only just pipped you to it, however I think you are spot on about the arrogance that comes through in the comments by Mr Sutherland (Tullochs), it is as if he is the only person who should be allowed any say on how things are run at the club and everyone else should just shut up and support that.

That's probably one of the most neutral and honest pieces of reporting I've seen on this whole affair.

I see that Mr Sutherland (Tullochs) continues his rant in the Courier - Clicky Clicky One quote in particular stands out for me..... First of all, I haven't seen anything from the Trust which is encouraging the fans to revolt. As far as I am aware the meeting has been called to discuss the current situation at ICT. You say yourself in the article that fans are entitled to their say and you understand their concerns, so what's your issue with them calling a meeting to discuss it formally? We (the fans) have tried to raise our issues through other means and to date we've been all but ignored by the Board of Directors...you might prefer we just sat down and kept quiet, we have in the past, but the fact that it's gone this far is surely ringing some alarm bells for you? Secondly, what does he think the Trust was set up for? Take a clue from the word "Supporters" in the title Mr Sutherland because it is they who's interest the Trust is there to represent and that is exactly what they are doing. They are not there to simply raise and plough money blindly into the club, and if they feel that their investment is not being properly utilised or their interest (shareholding) is not being represented then they are, just as you are, entitled to take check of the situation and raise their issues. What kind of business continues to bury it's head in the sand whilst it's customers are screaming that there's problems which need addressing? I would suggest that it is you and the Board of Directors who could "be doing with taking a long, hard look at themselves"

The club won't have to bother banning the local press from attending the stadium as it's abundantly obvious some of the journalists reporting on ICT aren't even bothering to go as it is!!!

weeStie, nobody has been more vocal in the past about "closed" meetings of the Trust than I have, but in reality I would not expect this to be an open meeting as it could very well result in discussion and votes which are "Trust Business" - i.e. How does the membership wish the Board to act should certain things happen and are they happy with the Board taking a certain stance or using the Trusts Shareholding in a specific way etc. This is not a football forum or general chit chat as past meetings have been, so I think the Trust are quite right to operate it the way they are....in fact, it would become an impossible task to organise and control if they made it anything else.

I think the HN could find themselves banned from the Stadium again at this rate

As they've owned the Stadium since 2002 I'm guessing there's no "negotiation" to be had and they can call it what the like.

Yes he is enjoying his 2 month winter break, lazy bugger. I will be speaking to him tonight at 10pm Romanian New Year, He knows who got him to the Euros, ICT and their fans pure and simple!! Tell Marius La Multi Ani si Un An Nou Fericit from me. My grammar might suck, but I think I got the jist of it

I have another question. At what point does it make sense to move from the TCS to a smaller home ? A smaller home in what sense - IF we remain in the SPL there is a minimum all seater requirement. Also I would not consider TCS as a big stadium far from it!! As David Sutherland owns TCS outright (the lease and buildings), and not some Charitable Trust as we have all been led to believe for long enough, then we could very well find ourselves out on our ear should he not get things his own way....so a move might be on the cards sooner than expected, and for all the wrong reasons. I still wouldn't mind some answers to the questions I've raised about how the stadium managed to pass from the club to Sutherland (or one of his companies) whilst bypassing the Charitable Trust altogether and why we were never ever told about it. Perhaps it's something that needs to be raised through more official channels!!!