caleyboy

I've got a question .......... What the feck is going on at this club? We don't have a full squad of players and we don't seem to be getting any closer to having one! No stability whatsoever - If we can't afford the players, lets put our hands up, get a mixed squad of youngsters and journeymen and compete at a level we CAN afford. Totally peed off with all this crap.

The problem is that we are anything but financially stable. We are losing at least £250k a year. No matter what some feel about clubs not being dependant on cash injections from directors etc - we just cannot afford to trade as we are doing right now. We are living on the breadline - our manager has one of the lowest budgets, if not the lowest, in the SPL so he has to deal in "non-traditional" markets. We cannot expect any better than we are getting under these circumstances. Attendances will probably continue to fall because of the financial climate and the product on offer. UNLESS we get cash injections of very large amounts we should be worried.

Where exactly do you think the directors can magic up this money from?. If more "fans" would come through the gates each week, we would have more money but so many things affecting football at the moment, don't think it is possible to try and get an extra 1000 people each week. Don't know hat St Johnstone are offering Tade in terms of cash but Dundee Utd are paying £1800 a week basic to certain new signings, how they can afford that, i have no idea but we certainly cannot. Nobody mentioned magic. Unfortunately, a sad fact of life. If we can't attract some quality into the squad we will probably go down. I don't know of any club, apart from Rangers, maybe Motherwell and ourselves who doesn,t have an ego chaser willing to put a few quid in to prop up the team. Give him credit, Macgregor has stuck by the tinks and right now, I'm not looking forward to meeting them next season. Sorry, but if our mob can't or won't invest then they should be finding someone who will.

If all the stories about us losing so many players are true, the directors of this club must pull their fingers out of their asses and give the management the tools (money) to keep us in the SPL! It will cost the club a lot more if we are relegated.

Quick calculation so there is a chance of a mistake ... but I make it as follows And he's still regarded as a first team regular!

He only wants an offer equal to what he is getting now which is considerably less than some others! As to who said he is being offered less money - well I think that is glaringly obvious.

Read in a local paper a few days ago that he has said "At my age, I'm not wanting to be on the bench, or a squad player." and "If I'm not going to be a regular, it won't be for me next year." Given his age, that seems to be a bit dictatorial. Is any player 100% guaranteed not being on the bench or a squad player? I always thought that was what football was all about....a team game, where the egos of players are subsumed to the good of the team. Seems to me if he is prepared to fight for his place as he said he was, why would he need guarantees of a regular game. Wouldn't his own performances give him the opportunity to play if he makes sure he can't justifiably be ignored? If it's about money, or if he has been told he is going to be kept not to play at all but to mentor the younger players as the only ICT real old-stager left , then that's one thing, so if he can get more money elsewhere then good luck to him......and I can see why he wouldn't want to be last choice in an absolute emergency for a game....but if it is just because he will be a squad player and not an automatic first team shoo-in then you kinda have to query his attitude. Nobody is entitled to a place in the starting line-up.or even on the bench. If he was wanting to go elsewhere I,m sure he would be gone by now. Let me ask you a question, Assuming you are good at your job and have been employed by your boss for over 15 years and come your salary review he asked you to take less money, what would you say?

Exactly why we shopuld trim the whole operation down and invest in QUALITY not quantity. £1m investment a year - you are having a laugh - more spin - this club has NEVER invested anywhere near this amount but would like us to think so. The whole thing is financed by grants and sponsorship. The club's return on investment is EXCEPTIONAL! Seems to me its you doing the spin. I never said the club invested that amount. I said thats what it costs. The football club does however invest in youth. The club takes on a number of apprentices every year. That means wages and insurances have to be paid for players and coaches. Off course the club invests. The bottom line in all this though is that perhaps the product at the end just isnt good enough for top flight. Anyone can see a bit of talent at someones feet but it takes a deal more than that to be a professional footballer. We dont see the attitude off the pitch. We dont see the effort put into training. I'm sure all those things are considered when choosing who to give contracts to and who to let go. Many of the contributers on this thread can only see, and be affected by, those youths that are being let go.They fail to see that the club are also keeping some. IAnd who told you that's what it costs? I do wonder at times if you are actually employed by this penny pinching club's spin department. The whole bluddy thing needs a shake man - QUALITY NOT QUANTITY!!!!!

Exactly why we shopuld trim the whole operation down and invest in QUALITY not quantity. £1m investment a year - you are having a laugh - more spin - this club has NEVER invested anywhere near this amount but would like us to think so. The whole thing is financed by grants and sponsorship. The club's return on investment is EXCEPTIONAL!

Obviously giving him an offer he can easily refuse. Why not just tell the boy he is no longer wanted!

Bloody Forres Car Repairs wouldn't have won the SHFL if we were still in it

I think, and if I'm honest, I probably hope next season is his last because I think that our wee club has lost a lot of it's identity over the recent past and I feel he has played a big part in the change.

Stuff County and all who support them. We have far too many teams to worry about without giving these upstart dwellers any attention on this (camp)site

The point is - the step up is too big for OUR players. Those getting a chance elsewhere are arguably far better than our lads.

Let's put this to bed once and for all - The U19 league is a complete and utter waste of time! Our club should propose that the SPL or SFA scrap this league and re-introduce the RESERVE league where at least 6 players must be U21 (of which at least 3 are U19). It will save us money, give youth a REAL chance to learn from and play with better more experienced players and it will also give our fringe first ream players game time. Probably more important, it will stop these kids wasting their time and being given false hope that they will be full-time footballers earning a good living.

TBH I'm sick fing fed up with all this s..te! I wonder what would have happened if it was US?

It really is a crap business, Procs is a decent guy but in all honesty was and never will a pl league player. Wish him all the very best and hope he finds a club soon.

Alex - this U21 league you keep harping on about hasn't been in existance for many, many years. It certainly hasn't been there since we first joined the SPL! I agree the RESERVE league should be re-introduced but to the demise of the U19's. There is just no value in what is costing a fortune.Sign kids who have REAL potential - not just numbers to make up a squad!

Debut August 1996 v Clyde according to the ICT official site. Your right enough Yngwie. That was a league cup game away to Clyde. Doing deeper research I see he never featured from then till 14th September 96 at home to Shire. He would have played at Telford street then. A new lesson is learned today...........never trust Soccerbase. More like never trust what Alex MacLeod says :lol:

Adam MacLeod - obviously. Maybe he thought he would be a star in such a lowly team but ended up a bit part player!

Totally agree with you IHE, but the standard of coaching is vitally important at the U13 stage up, not just the U19's where I think the club feels these youngsters should be the finished article - far from it. State of the Art facilities doesn't make a player, good quailty coaching, discipline and desire does. Personally I think the SPL youth programme is too widespread ie too many age groups which means too many bit part players who will never progress to the next level. The club could coach as many players as they see fit but I would have a go at having only 2 nationally competing groups, U15 & U18. The U15 group would be filled with QUALITY 13, 14 & u15 players and the U18's with 16,17 & u18's but the important factor would be having at least 4 well qualified coaches who are paid decent part-time wages to reflect their qualifications and experience. If you run 5 or 6 teams as we do, you just cannot get enough quality coaches. I could probably bore you with my opinion all night but this club either doesn't have or just doesn't invest enough into this area - it has always been the same, no matter what spin is put on it.

Strathspey Thistle was probably the worst place for him to go but seemingly had attitude problem which has seen him spend most of the season on the bench. Doubt if he will end up at Elgin.

Don't think the quality is there Alex. The best we have are getting a wee chance now. Am I missing something, haven't seen any youngsters being blooded. I'm sure there are some young lads who Butcher should be giving a chance against Hibs this week-end. There is no pressure, so give youth a fling and let them express themselves. I'm sure Butcher is a better judge than us Donview (or he should be). From what I hear, there is very little in the U19's other than Polworth and Christie and that is probably the best we can expect considering the small investment the CLUB makes to this area. I'm sure Polworth and Christie will get their chance when they are ready but we will just have to do with Ross and Sutherland at the moment.

It really doesn't matter if they are in the 1st Div, 2nd Div or Prem, it doesn't change anything - they are still Travelling Barstewards and the more hidings we give them the better

I think that could be popular. A complete change from what we've had in the past