40 minutes ago, Caley Mad In Berks said:

Just been selected as one of 3 Brits to referee at the Euro 2016 finals!  Maybe just as well Scotland did not qualify!

Just read that, too! Now that UEFA regard him as one of the top 18 refs in Europe, his ego will be off-the-Collum!

Jordan Roberts involved, too!
Omerovic is a name I didn't recognise, but have discovered he's a Swedish defender on trial. http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/inverness/1336069-inverness-caledonian-thistle-hand-trial-to-swedish-centre-back/
Benjamin Omerovic. 21 years old, currently with Nykopings in Sweden's third-tier.

Wick game tomorrow already postponed - for the 5th time. Will try again on Wednesday night.
After 4 previous postponements, Wick got their game on at home yesterday, but here-we-go-again with another postponement!
I understand that Linlithgow fans are not impressed! However, them's the rules!

Sounds like a good game! Hard luck ICT losing 4-2.
Certainly doing a lot better this year. Last season when we finished 17th and last, many of the boys were coming in from the U17s. A year on, and we're much more competitive.
The penalty which ultimately won it for Hearts was apparently controversial, with our U20s boss sent to the stand for 'complaining'! That would be Shearer?

Good comeback from 3-0 to 3-2 for ICT's youths!
Still 30 mins left....

Zanatta again, 3-0 Hearts approaching H-T.....

GOAL ICT Andrew Macrae
Hearts 3-1 Inverness

Team lines for the Youth Cup last-16 game (from Hearts Twitter):

A nervous end, but a good 3 points! They could be crucial towards the end of the season...
As mentioned above, there's not much between top-6 and relegation play-off!
We need to 'turn-the-screw' on a struggling Dundee United next week and finish the year on a high!

There's little indication whether the groups will also be spread on 'ability' as well as geographically.
Another point not mentioned was the scenario of the winner of the Highland league or Lowland league securing a place in League Two - would the runner-up of the HL/LL take their place in the groups? Or would the deposed club return? And will there be an actual draw, or will clubs simply be assigned a group? Baffling....

Taking the current positions literally, Brora and Edinburgh City would be in the groups. Hypothetically, I'll give Hibs the play-off win against Motherwell.
My attempt at a geographical/ability balance! :

Article from The Northern Scot newspaper website:

'Pele' Paterson is new Dufftown manager

MORAY junior football club Dufftown have pulled off a sensational coup by appointing Steve ‘Pele’ Paterson as their new manager.

Steve Paterson is the new Dufftown manager.

Former Aberdeen boss Paterson, who steered Caley Thistle up the Scottish divisions and won countless Highland League honours, has agreed an 18-month contract with the Speyside outfit.

‘Pele’ told the Northern Scot how Dufftown’s approach to him came like a bolt out of the blue, but chairman Alan Murray won him over with his ambitious plans.

"When I first spoke to Alan and then met him, he really sold the club fantastically well," Paterson said. "For some strange reason it just seemed to capture imagination.

"It was more out of respect to Dufftown that I first listened to what they had to say, but the more I thought about it, it started to get me interested.

"I just love being involved in football and the lure of getting back to a grassroots level was quite healthy for me."

Murray said Paterson wants to work with club coaches and recent caretaker managers Garry McGingle and Davie Ness, and not bring in his own people.

The pair had taken on the role in an interim basis since previous boss Fraser Bremner, the man who steered Dufftown to the North Junior Superleague, quit to join Highland League Rothes in October.

Paterson left his last management job at Formartine United in March and planned to take a long spell away from football, despite approaches from other clubs.

Dufftown chairman Murray said: "I think it’s the biggest appointment that I can remember at this club."

Paterson will miss Dufftown’s game at Inverness City on Saturday but will take in their visit to Banks o’ Dee in Aberdeen the following Wednesday.

The junior football league then goes into a winter break, with Paterson officially taking charge of the team on January 1.

In Friday’s Northern Scot, don’t miss an exclusive interview with ‘Pele’ Paterson where he talks about a new and unexpected chapter in his incredible football career.

The Youth Cup game at Hearts has been rearranged for this Sunday (13th) at 1pm. The venue's not specified on the SFA website, but it does seem that the games in this competition are played at the actual home ground, where possible. So, will probably be at Tynecastle.

Not wanting to 'bump' years old threads, so I'll stick this here...

Steve Paterson is back in the game!
Last night, he was appointed manager at Dufftown, who are in their first season in the North Junior Superleague.
Brilliant news. Assuming he still lives in the Moray area, it's a handy gig for him. Wish him well with this endeavour.

Ibra Sekajja has cropped-up at Braintree Town, having signed last month as a free agent. It didn't work for him at Livingston, it seems.
However, Braintree are in the 5th tier and pushing for the League Two play-offs, so it's a good standard.

Tonight's results:
Annan Athletic 1-0 Inverurie Loco Works
Dumbarton 5-0 Alloa Athletic
Wick v. Linlithgow is the only unresolved game - next attempt is Monday 14th December.

Saturday 9th January - 3pm (unless otherwise stated)
Airdrieonians v Dundee United
Annan Athletic v Hamilton Academical
Dumbarton v Queen of the South
Dundee v Falkirk
Dunfermline Athletic v Ross County
East Kilbride v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
Livingston v Greenock Morton
Motherwell v Cove Rangers
Raith Rovers v Hibernian
St Johnstone v Kilmarnock
St Mirren v Partick Thistle
Stirling Albion v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Wick Academy or Linlithgow Rose v Forfar Athletic
Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen (5.30pm)
Rangers v Cowdenbeath (Sunday 10th - 1pm)
Stranraer v Celtic (Sunday 10th - 3.15pm)

Impressive Mantis! Two visits to Ainslie Park in less than 24 hours! Kudos!

16 hours ago, TheMantis said:

Away to Hibs tomorrow (tues) 2pm at Ainslie Park.

Result:
Hibs 1-0 Inverness CT

As Mantis mentioned, Lothian Thistle HV had a terrific win last night to set up a match with East Kilbride.
The other game last night saw Cowdenbeath secure a 4-2 win at Arbroath, to book a trip to Ibrox.

Saturday 9th January - 3pm (unless otherwise stated)
Airdrieonians v Dundee United
Dumbarton or Alloa Athletic v Queen of the South
Dundee v Falkirk
Dunfermline Athletic v Ross County
East Kilbride v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
Inverurie Loco Works or Annan Athletic v Hamilton Academical
Livingston v Greenock Morton
Motherwell v Cove Rangers
Raith Rovers v Hibernian
St Johnstone v Kilmarnock
St Mirren v Partick Thistle
Stirling Albion v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Wick Academy or Linlithgow Rose v Forfar Athletic
Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen (5.30pm)
Rangers v Cowdenbeath (Sunday 10th - 1pm)
Stranraer v Celtic (Sunday 10th - 3.15pm)

Your CAPS LOCK key is on.
'Shouting' doesn't make your point any more valid.
Granted, I had a 'wee dig', but the postponement on Saturday had been noted and discussed on both the game and travel threads from 7.30am that morning.
It was the hot topic on CTO and how you managed to navigate the forum to this thread (at 12 noon) without noticing or even having an interest in the outcome of the pitch inspection at Hearts, is beyond me - perhaps you've got this page bookmarked!

Having paid taxes for 30 years, I'm of the generation that does still 'recognise' my elders but I also know that respect has to be earned - it's not merely lavished on those who have simply 'reached a certain age'. That said, you need to 'grow up'! If anybody's being 'immature' on this board, it's you, Laurence. Your posts consistently carry an underlying bitterness and often hint at entitlement and self-importance...

Some ties went ahead this afternoon - but the weather played havoc here, too. Notable win for East Kilbride, in only they're second season in the competition. They'll fancy
going even further! Cove now have a trip to Motherwell...
Five games remain unresolved with attempts being made this 'midweek' to get them played.

Forfar Athletic 2-1 Queen's Park
Cove Rangers 4-1 Formartine United
East Kilbride 2-1 (aet) Stenhousemuir

Airdrieonians v Dundee United
Dumbarton or Alloa Athletic v Queen of the South
Dundee v Falkirk
Dunfermline Athletic v Ross County
East Kilbride v Huntly or Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale
Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen
Inverurie Loco Works or Annan Athletic v Hamilton Academical
Livingston v Greenock Morton
Motherwell v Cove Rangers
Raith Rovers v Hibernian
Rangers v Cowdenbeath or Arbroath
St Johnstone v Kilmarnock
St Mirren v Partick Thistle
Stirling Albion v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Stranraer v Celtic
Wick Academy or Linlithgow Rose v Forfar Athletic

11 minutes ago, Laurence said:

I also wonder how our fans will get to the match today in Edinburgh ?

I also wonder how you've managed to miss the announcement that the game was postponed - almost five hours ago!

He also hinted on Radio Scotland that he'd have preferred a 3-year-deal - it sounds like there's been/is some 'tension' behind the scenes - the 'deal' that's been agreed is
clearly a compromise, and will certainly have various caveats and get-out clauses.

Hawkeye, I'm sure you wouldn't be too pleased if you were denied the opportunity to double your wages.

18 minutes ago, PerfICT said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34985616

Not sure that this makes for great reading! I think we all knew that Yogi would have liked to have spoken with United, but I'm not sure it was wise to bring it all up again and to highlight his issues with the club for not allowing him to speak with them at the time. I'm happy that we have kept Yogi for the stability that it brings, but sometimes he just says too much to the press for his own good!

I'd be amazed if part of his new contract negotiations didn't include a 'clause' that stipulated that he should be afforded the opportunity to meet any future suitors!

Hughes is an advocate of a club not standing-in-the-way, if another comes-in with interest - or 'comes calling' as he puts it. He was vocal about that during the Christie move to Celtic. It's natural that he was disappointed not to be given the chance to just speak to Dundee United.
And, as Butcher demonstrated when he went to 'talk' to Barnsley, it doesn't necessarily mean a deal is inevitable.
Indeed, when he (Butcher) reflected on what he'd been offered then subsequently rejected it, to stay with us, it was such a huge 'shot-in-the-arm'!
The way Mixu has started at Tannadice, it may not be long before they're 'sniffing about' again! But at least we'd now get more compensation - one would assume!

5 hours ago, Scarlet Pimple said:

What's the position with Storey?  Is he a free agent and can be signed on a contract. Now that would be a very good piece of busi ness if it can be arranged.

He's not a free agent until the end of the season - when his contract with Swindon expires.

Signed until the end of season (2017-18):

• John Hughes - Manager

• Brian Rice - Assistant Manager
 

Signed until the end of next season (2016-17):

• Gary Warren

• Richie Foran

• Greg Tansey

• Josh Meekings

Signed until the end of this season (2015-16):

• Dean Brill

• Aaron Doran

• Danny Williams

• Ryan Esson

• Carl Tremarco

• Ross Draper

• James Vincent

• David Raven

• Danny Devine

• Ali Sutherland

• Liam Polworth

• Lewis Horner 

• Calum Ferguson

• Cammy Mackay

• Nat Wedderburn

• Jordan Roberts

• Dani Lopez

• Owain Fon Williams

• Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo

• Iain Vigurs

On loan until January:
• Ryan Christie
• Miles Storey
• Tobi Sho-Silva

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Development Squad players available for this season (2015-16):

• Calum Howarth

• Jason Brown  

• Jaime Wilson  

• Kane Hull

• Struan McArthur 

• Blair MacLennan 

• Chris Brown

• Stephen Rennie 

• Chris Blackett

• Daniel Hoban (goalkeeper) 

• Alasdair Stark  

• Andrew Macrae

• Cameron Gilchrist