caleyboy

What about Granty. Don't you all think it's about time he got rid of no 14!

Let's not forget that Bruce is also an ex Caley Thistle player. I think I'm right in saying that he had a scoring debut at Arbroath. He deserves his special day.

Believe what you want to believe about shareholder rights Alex. As I have previously suggested, why not ask the club for a detailed, individual breakdown of the players and management earnings and see how you get on! I am surprised that you don't have a reply to my point on Youth investment and the coaching subject? :comp01: I do apologise to everyone as this has probably gone way off topic now. Sorry

Whoever told you that a shareholder is entitled to know what individual employees earn is having you on. Why don't you ask Mike Smith what Darren Dodds earns and see what reaction you get! On the Youth subject, again as a shareholder, ask the club exactly how much they "plough" into our Youth Programme and the Highland Academy. I doubt if they will tell you but if they do and tell you the truth, I don't think you will make such a statement again. With regard to players having the correct level of coaching qualifications, tell me what players coach our youth squads 3 nights a week and attend their matches on a Sunday? Sorry, I will answer that myself - NONE! Research the SFA coaching qualification structure and you will understand what I am talking about.

Exactly RIG that's why we shouldn't build up our hopes until the deal is done. Maybe we will learn for the future.

Yes, it sounds like it. All Italians have been zissed for the last 4 weeks and after tonight will be for the next 4 at least. Let's bring the Scotland Euro game forward and catch them cold!!! :015:

CaleyD - You obviously have a lot of inside knowledge but it is concerning when you claim "I am perfectly aware of the level of wages our players are on (with and without bonus)." Personal contracts should be just that, PERSONAL and ALL the players should be asking how you have obtained such information. On the other hand, I hope this is merely a figment of the imagination. :33: You also state that " I personally know people who regularly dip in their pocket to give 10's of thousands to youth development at ICT, and will continue to do so for as long as it is needed, so I am aware of how things are." I was honestly unaware such people were so generous to such a low key section of the club but if they do invest such sums they must be major supporters of the Club and I am surprised they do not get more prominent exposure. You should use your personal connection and encourage them to invest even more in such a good and essential cause :clapping04: I really didn't think my post would have attracted such a comprehensive reply CaleyD but thanks anyway for taking the time to keep me right.

CaleyD wrote "The club will never win on this subject. One minute people are crying out for news, and when they release any news they get slated for not keeping it quiet" Sorry CaleyD but the Club can win on this subject by releasing news when it is FACT. Other clubs in the SPL can do it so why can't we? "Personal terms were agreed with both Hoolahan and Rankin. In Hoolahan's case it was the terms of his release with Livingston that were delaying further action, and in Rankins case it is his Agents greed that is delaying any further action" If terms were agreed with the clubs and personal terms with the players, they would be signed by now. Clauses in contracts with clubs and agents should be sorted out BEFORE it gets to agreeing personal terms with the new club. "We DO NOT pay the lowest wages in the SPL when bonuses etc are taken in to consideration. Personally I think this is a great system as it gives an added insensitive for players to get the finger out on the pitch, and if one player isn't pulling his weight and is dragging the team down and impacting bonuses they will ensure he is motivated" Our Director of Football has confirmed on many occasions that we pay the lowest wages and our players should be concerned if you know what they are earning! "And as great as the idea is off channeling more resource in to youth development, I think we do a pretty decent job for a club our size. 11 "wet behind the ears" youths wouldn't keep us in the SPL which is where the money comes from to fund their training" Our youth development is vastly UNDER FUNDED - have a good chat with Danny MacDonald. He has personally had to raise most of the funding to add to the SFA grant. This club does NOT and never has invested enough cash in this area and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. Our kids are still coached in the main by VOLUNTEERS who give up 3 nights and a Sunday every week! Ask the Club how many SFA Level 4 youth coaches we have? We will very soon need at LEAST one with each SQUAD! Structured Coach Education, Suitable Training Facilities, Player Welfare, Scouting etc. etc. all costs money and for all the time spent since this club was formed, we have only Grant Munro and Mike Fraser who have come all the way through. This is not intended as a slight as the programme is still running on a shoe string budget and many good players are now benefiting other clubs at various levels. I would agree that we are "doing a pretty decent job" but it could be a lot better with the proper level of investment. Your comment regarding "11 wet behind the ears youths" is bizarre to say the least and really is not worth further comment!

Here's hoping our goalscoring touch continues when we play real teams.

All this news about POTENTIAL deals is wearing pretty thin. Why don't we just keep things low key until the fish is landed! I fully agree with our stance re wages etc but we really don't need to start talking about "...will be joining us in Italy toward the end of the week IF a deal is done". Forget all this and do our business on the qt so we don't end up with egg on our faces. It sounds very like that we are struggling to sign either of these targets and it all comes down to personal terms. Let's not kid ourselves, we still pay the lowest wages in the SPL (not that there is anything wrong in that) so we are only likely to attract players who are permanently out of the picture at an other SPL club and are willing to take a pay cut, a young player not getting a chance at a bigger club and wanting to kick start his career, a promising player in the lower divisions wanting his chance or our own home grown youngsters where we should be channeling far more resources than we are at present. I hope we do get Rankin but let's keep it quiet until the deal is done.

Maybe my memory is zapped but in 2001, I'm sure DS said that he would transfer the tulloch shares to the ICT Supporters Trust at the end of the 5 year deal on voting rights. Am I right? At that time the Supporters Trust had still to be set up but now that it has, why would he want to set up a new trust? :024:

Bin your contact without further delay :015:

Caff is far too good to sit on the bench. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go. If he does, good luck to a great serveant to this club. :clapping04:

If this is right, we have probably missed out on making any money on Proctor.

Is the back Blue or red?

You are absolutely spot on Kingsmills. A squad of 18 would do exactly as you say. Most other SPL teams have very young reserve teams and that is good for their development.

Quote: "I immediately thought it was Alistair (Sugar) Kennedy who was also a member of the troop" Come of it - Sugar was in the Guides!

Was that 6 strokes or just 3 Mantis? :006:

Jono Smith is an excellent young keeper. He is only 19 but despite his huge potential, he is well short of 6' and too small for prem football. If Ike goes, we would need to sign a back up as Jono needs to be farmed out for a season. Ike is too good to lose but he must be getting itchy.

IMHO Proctor is nowhere near Tokes or Caff so he is 3rd in line for RB. Let's not forget he has limited first team experience so if we could get £30k - £40k we would be doing very well thank you. Black is also very inexperienced at this level and I think it is well known that he has ideas of being elsewhere for better money. If he wants to follow his mentor well so be it and I suppose £50k - £60k would be reasonable money. If we are to sell them, I think Grassa would be doing very well to get £80k - £100k top whack for them both. Rankine from the travellers for £60k -£70k to replace Black and that would be a good bit of business tucking away a bit cash for better wages when needed.

Dons are a bigger club with better facilities, pay bigger money, have bigger crowds but they have an inferior team! I still think we should shave a wee bit of our prices. The problem is - if we reduce ticket prices our commercial activities need to improve to cover the cost. Do we have a commercial dept capable of this?

Seemingly offered £400pw by Halifax Towns FC :017:

Only one man for me and that's Grant Munro!

Can anyone tell me how much cash Tullochs have actually invested in ICT? I believe the stands are actually leased, not owned by ICT. Our situation is quite confusing. I really like Mileson's style, no Blazers, inflated ego or spin about him - just a real supporter investing lots of money. Good luck to them!

Maybe you don't remember but from the first season at Caledonian Stadium the club gave free tickets to all primary schools in Inverness. Kids under 12 got in free to the terracing if accompanied by an adult. OK, crowds were smaller and we were allowed to use terracing but the gesture was there and it was widely used. For some unknown reason, this arrangement was terminated in 2000/2001. If this were to be implimented again, you would have to select the games and probably section off part of the away stand. I fully believe kids under 12 should have FREE entry with a full paying adult but the mechanics would need a great deal of thought.