CaleyD

Pretty sure the club did a viability study on stadium location and possible alternative sites fairly recently (within the last 5 years). I'll have to go digging into my files as I'm sure I, eh, "obtained" some info on it around that time. In fact, I remember George Fraser talking about a community stadium project being looked at for the Bught....Charles may have more info on that? Anyway, the point is...it's something that has been looked at, obviously deemed non-viable, and shelved.

Just added new Mugs, Hats, Scarves, Notebooks, Water Bottles, Calendars to the club online shop at http://ictfc.com/commercial/store?page=shop.browse&category_id=27 I'm particularly fond of the new mugs...and there's also a new bar scarf due to arrive any day (sneak preview graphic attached)

Good article/interview with Kenny Cameron in the recent FC Business Magazine which you can view online at http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/eversion/fc81/index.html (Pages 42-44).

How ironic that CaleyD of all people should make a statement like that!!! Not really as I've never been wrong.

I think it may have been Doofers Dad who met with Kenny Cameron about this subject the last time the topic was being scrutinised on the forum so he may have more to add on the point. In brief, I think the situation for last season was something like......big drop in visiting fan numbers, and, home fan numbers being fairly static (over the season) although the split between season ticket holders and walk-ups had changed. Would appear from info to hand that it's probably much the same this season.

We should, without doubt, talk up the many things that are good but I am not sure that those who speak for the club jumping down the throat or making sarcastic comments about fans with sincere and constructive criticism helps much. I no more speak for the club than you speak for CTO. My views and opinions are entirely my own and when passing on (or requesting) info as requested by ICTFC I always seek to make that entirely clear...pretty much the identical situation you find yourself in as a moderator on this site. In regards to my earlier post, I can assure you that I intended no sarcasm. That blog does NOTHING to help the club or assist in getting more people through the gates. It's only likely to achieve the exact opposite and given the author is a "fan" then I would class it as being more renegade than sincere.

For me, the biggest issue at present is that there's too many people going around pointing out everything they think is bad and using it as a stick to beat the club when there's not a lot can be done about it. The worst of which comes from the press and bloggers such as the above who make statements of (so called) fact, but have little or no evidence to back it up. What chance do the club have of attracting people when "fans" are spouting off like that telling everyone the place is a shit hole?! Maybe the answer is that they try a change of tact by talking up all that is good...and there's plenty...and giving people the reasons to come to games instead of reinforcing whatever reasons they might have for currently not bothering?

Come on people....there's no shame in admitting when you're wrong without lobbing in more hurdles for the guy to stumble over in order to prove himself. Aside from anything else, you'll just have to admit to being wrong again when he takes those in his stride as well Also, I have to disagree with Johndo about any veering or change of direction as I believe the plan/goal has never changed. If you have a steel bar and it's bent in one direction and you want to straighten it, then you have to over bend it in the other direction and allow it to spring back to being straight. IMO, that's the process the team have been going through and it will continue...although to a lesser extent now that the fundamentals are in place. Go back and look, you'll see it's what I've been telling you all along.

It's Mckay (small k)

Great performance and on another day McKay and Watkins might have both grabbed hat-tricks. In regards to the crowd, home gates (again) exceeded what was forcast/budgeted for by the club and it was good to see the tickets for volunteers initiative being well received....many of whom were first time visitors and one small group I spoke to said they were made to feel very welcome by those around them and would definitely be back.

Think we've already covered that one, Einstein!

Totally agree. I, and quite a few others, attend the Development League fixtures, and previously the Reserves/Under 20s, but this past month the fixtures seem hell-bent on having these young players having no-one in support. Poor show ICT, to both the fans and the players too. Perhaps you should write to the SFA and ask for their reasoning. Clubs are pretty much held to ransom in regards when and where they can hold development league matches....and if they fail to comply then they have money withheld by the SFA. I did look out for you at the game on Tuesday to come and explain, but I didn't see you there.

Does Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC deliver "Value for Money"? To answer that question, we first have to look at the definition of "Value for Money".... "Value for money" is a term used to assess whether or not an organisation has obtained the maximum benefit from the goods and services it both acquires and provides, within the resources available to it." So, in my opinion...Yes, ICTFC delivers "Value for Money". When you compare what we deliver with what other companies (clubs) operating in the same market are delivering based on their resources, then I don't see how anyone could argue that. Sure, the club could cut it's costs by bringing in cheaper players etc and reduce ticket prices...but that doesn't make it any better value for money, that just makes it cheaper and in return they deliver a cheaper product. Although it's highly likely that you then have fewer people willing to come watch an inferior product, reducing the crowds and commanding the need for a larger ticket price!!! Some people may think Scottish Premiership football is expensive (and I wouldn't argue), but that's a different argument and it then falls to choice on whether people are willing to pay what is being asked for it. The unfortunate thing is...there's not much Caley Thistle can do to make the product any less expensive without impacting on the quality. I could give a list of where I think the problems lie and where fixes are needed....but Scotty's got that covered above.

Which you've contributed to with your reply!!

It only runs at select home matches....roughly once a month. Next one will be at the Motherwell game and you can sign up for a chance to have a go at http://ictfc.com/shoot-for-the-boot Prize money back to £100 and will roll-over until the next winner.

Just waiting on the paperwork coming back for my new number plate....

Truly disgusting that one human being would choose to do that to another. However, this happened away from the stadium (and as it transpires, also away from the Caley Club) and ICTFC are no more responsible for what someone in a Caley Thistle top does in town than Nike are responsible for what someone does while wearing a pair of their trainers. The matter is in the hands of the police and I believe there has been an arrest....and it is for them to deal with. I fail to see what it has to do with the game.

This is a good point. Is the an actual reason why you must have an allocated seat when you buy a ticket? As long as you have a ticket to the game, you should be able to stand/sit anywhere you want IMO. I feel this would increase noise level in the stadium as people are more likely to sing when surrounded by a group of friends/other people who are singing. As I said above, the club must allocate each person who enters the stadium a numbered seat....however, this is not "policed" other than in circumstances where someone who has purchased a specific seat (more often than not season ticket holders) can't use their seat because someone else is in it and refuses to move. Also been some issue with more people squeezing into an area than their are seats (whilst standing obviously), but that was sorted and hasn't arisen again as far as I know. So long as people are sensible and respect the rights of season ticket holders and those who have purchased specific seats, then I don't imagine the club would have any issue if people moved around a bit to be next to friends etc.

'They' moved? We were told to move! Personally always liked the West Stand idea. The atmosphere improved enormously the 3 games we got there. But then Mike Smith and co banned us for 'persistent standing'. Clown. I dont know if it has been mentioned before but after the SPL and SFL merged it was decided that the minimum seat requirement would be scrapped. Therefore you can have terracing in the Premiership again. There is nothing to stop us ripping out the seats in the West Stand and making the West side a terrace again! I whole heartedly believe that a designated terrace/singing area would help the atmosphere immensly. Not true....the West Stand initiative was shut down because of people persistently climbing up on the wall at the back and damage being done to hoardings/advertising and seats. The moving of the singing section was done in consultation with fans in that area. The Family Section was being extended and as fans in the singing section could be a little more boisterous then it was felt that moving it along would be for the best and less intimidating to younger fans in the family section. It was at the same time that the club agreed to ensure more scope was given in regard to how that section was stewarded....and it was a solution that everyone involved agreed too. You are also mistaken in your understanding of stadium rules/regulations in regards to seating. Whilst the minimum seat rules have been removed, Premiership clubs are still required to have all seater stadia (or more accurately, can only use seated areas within their stadia). Some of those seats can be replaced with the rail seats, but there still has to be a seat allocated to each person entering the ground. As ridiculous as that may be, it's not a situation of the clubs making and at near £100 per seat to move to rail seating....not including the cost of redoing the steps to make the extra depth required for them, then the cost of adding a roof which would be the next complaint on the list....then it's not likely to be happening any time soon.

Probably much easier if I just make it my signature...

What's to be smug about? Aside from it being a bit bizarre that any fan would take pleasure in a (perceived) negative for the club, the crowd actually exceeded what they had budgeted/predicted for this game.

Another tactical masterclass from Big Yogi and the Team. This has to be some of the most intelligent football ever played by Caley Thistle. Hamilton got the better start, but it didn't take long for us to re-assert ourselves and it was no looking back from then on. Hamilton came to realise early in the second half that they were struggling to cope with what was being thrown at them and, sadly, resorted to dragging our players down...and even holding them down...all over the pitch. Watkins' showed just how strong he can be on the ball, yet again, and given the "attention" he was getting at times I imagine he'll wake up a bit sore and with a bruise or two in the morning. Delighted for Billy as well. Second goal was laid out on a plate, but the first goal he can take plenty of credit for as he still had a bit of work to do on receiving the ball. I don't buy into the theory that his confidence was low, but it'll be great for his spirit to have bagged a brace and hopefully it marks a wee turn in fortune for him. The most exciting thing is.....I still don't believe we've seen the full potential of this squad. They seem to be learning and improving all the time....and long may that continue. Be interesting to see if the SFA take any action against Jason Scotland for his off-the-ball elbow on Gary Warren....which was caught clearly on camera. Bit of a precedent set with the Goodwin incident last week. (P.S. It's Mckay....small "k")

My point is quite simple really..... If employers are forced into paying the "living wage" then they need to pass on the cost of that by increasing the cost of their product or services....simple economics. This in turn makes it more expensive to "live" as you need those products and services, so the level of living wage has to increase to compensate for it. Cue a viscous circle which does nothing other than drive up the cost of living, rate of inflation etc. Discuss....

Mckay's conversion rate is down this season (to about 4%), but his shots on target figure has increased (to about 40%)....suggesting that it's only a matter of time before more of them start finding the back of the net.

We had a couple of penalty claims turned down and the St Johnstone keeper had a great game denying Ibra at least 2 goals with "WTF, how did he get to that" style saves. Lads will have been disappointed with the result, but not the overall performance....a bit like last Saturday really!