CELTIC1CALEY3

If a high proportion of players likely to be offered contracts, indicated to the Board their support for Richie, then the position he is in, could be recovered. However, that is one of the catch 22 problems the Board have. I suspect most of the players have been pretty loyal to Richie despite the relegation. He seems to think he still has the support of the majority. However, this is about trust and players who want to stay may not feel too comfortable speaking direct to Directors. We can but hope that they take their time and reach the best conclusion. That said, players have bills to pay and they will not want to wait too long for a positive outcome. Very few of us would have stomached the insecurity of being a professional footballer.

There will be a cost element to keeping Richie and one of getting rid of him. The Board have a difficult decision to make. As Directors, they are obliged to operate a going concern. A key part of that decision making will be checking which regular first teamers would want to leave if Richie stayed. If players like Laing and Fisher want to stay on and fight for Richie that would suggest the Board and Richie mihght be able to turn things around. Kenny for all his efforts might need to move on if the Board has a new leader. The Board now come into their own to re-build.

....and finally, congratulations to Hamilton.....Richie said the pressure was on you, but your resolve today was first class. Well done.

Nick Ross, James Vincent, Danny Williams, if we beat Motherwell, and you guys draw or beat Hamilton, you will finish 9th. One day Nick, you may well return to the ICT Team. Please make sure it is a possible SPFL team!!! Please be aware that Hamilton have produced some very good results at home this year at key moments. So do not switch off with minutes to go nor do a Rossco.

...but no gifts to Motherwell.

Come on Ross County save us from your shadow.................

As things stand, a Hamilton defeat at Ross County on Tuesday night would almost certainly get them a play off against Dundee United or Falkirk. So they too could be in the Championship next year.

IHE it was Vigurs who played in Fisher for the goal. When you see the Esson errors that is actually compounded by Raven dribbling instead of hoofing. I felt Brad was hampered by his silly booking following the tackle on Draper. There were times when both Mulraney and Polworth sat on the deck whinging instead of getting straight back up and winning the ball. Curiously enough a draw would not have helped unless we knew in advance that Hamilton were to lose their final three games. Only our friends over the Bridge can help us now, which seems quite likely given their desire for 7th place. So the Dundee game could be our cup final this year. If it is it has to be set up as a win. We have been starting well for some time but failing to capitalise on early chances. If we have not been relegated on Tuesday night, the team to play Dundee will be very interesting. The back five is a fixture. Tansey, Vigurs and possibly Polworth might give us the mobility but not necessarily the fight especially if we go a goal down. Up front it is likely to be Billy and Fish and if we want someone really hungry, Dean. That said, I can see Draper as Centre Forward with Fisher and McKay supporting him!! Poor old Yogi is unlikely to be managing a team in the Championship next year after leaving Raith so no banter with him next season.

Press release from ICT regarding Richie's position...

Foran back in....https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/ex-dundee-boss-paul-hartley-may-take-caley/ This should motivate us against Killie!!

Not many of us understand addictions so it would be inappropriate to comment.

All academic as IHE says. We have to beat Killie. With Freddie away and their left back suspended, let's hope our favourite goalie - Jamie Macdonald - does not play a blinder.

Raven made two bad errors against County. I would therefore think Horner or Mckay would be a more mobile and competent replacement. If we want warriors against Hamilton, Gary is our best hope. Gary is not a loser by choice. Laing was very mobile and went forward when he had the chance to do so against County. McNaughton is class and massively experienced. Laing and McNaughton are warriors. We need Draper and Tansey in midfield probably with Vigurs. Draper and Tansey can play as warriors. Up front it has to be Mckay and Fisher but Mulraney for all of his pace is a whinger and not a warrior. Hence Anier is the answer. Fisher ia a warrior, Billy is a little tiger and Anier is the closest we have to a Viking. As for goal keeper, a lot depends on whether Fon Williams is injured. McCart's pass back to Esson was pretty robust and to his right side. Beyond that, Esson was not at fault for the goals. Esson is a warrior. In recent games we have had three stupid sendings off - Cole was absolutely stupid, Gary should have been constrained in his tunnel protest although there was little to gain, and Polworth was caught sleeping and proceeded to ice the cake for County. If the club and supporters really want a chance of survival we have to do well against Hamilton. It we gift Hamilton a win and Motherwell draw or win, Saturday the 6th of May 2017 will be Championship reality unless you have a maths or physics background.

After we are relegated, Caman, hopefully as part of the club rebuild, the Board and management will reflect on what is being said here and try and improve aspects of the football experience to prevent a slide back down the leagues.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p051g5zd

Given the fan base of the club, given the overall resources of the club, given the overall state of Scottish football - notwithstanding the enormous wealth and power of Celtic FC - how would you Caman go about helping the club?

......................or failing that, the psychology has to be 'that we will try and lose the final four games'. That would certainly upset the apple cart because until now it has been 'we are aiming for the top six' - never ever hit that target -...'I am letting the club and supporters down'..-until Xmas we had great belief in Richie as a new manager getting it right - 'the next game is a must win'.- we have failed that one in most cases with the exception of Elgin away and four SPFL games -.'we need 7 points out of the next 9' - 'we failed that'. If we actually try and lose, maybe we will win!! If we could fail that four times we might escape. Asking for wins is just not sensible. Last night, as was the case against St Johnstone too, we started very well and then four errors gifted County four goals. We did not try to lose but under pressure made some basic errors. We cannot blame the referee here. All eyes on Dundee today who are now convinced they can aim for 7th!!!!! Let's hope they lose and we get a chance to try and lose all four of our remaining games!!!

At the moment it looks like the ticket will get the winner entry to see Dunfermline, Queen of the South and Livingston. They are all very good teams and will relish heading to Inverness. Hopefully by end of the Hamilton game there will be clarity on a few other teams in the Championship next season.

Ross County think our stay in the SPFL is over....now is the time for the team to stand up and be counted and the only possible change from the team above could be bringing back our cup winning goalie.

I know someone has suggested Brian's contract is up in May 2017 but this article seems to suggest Summer 2018.........http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/Sport/Football/John-Hughes-and-Brian-Rice-sign-contract-extensions-at-Caley-Thistle-01122015.htm As a result he has rights under the Employment Protection Act if you or I were 'punted' without just cause.

Shalk now out but Boyce eligible because SFA rules state:'' 3.7.4 Any period of suspension incurred by a player as a result of his having accumulated 18 or more penalty points, shall commence on the 14th day following the date of the offence which resulted in the incurring of the suspension.''

Ross County could well have three key players suspended for our first split game - Andrew Davies, Liam Boyce and against Celtic, the dubious penalty winner (and late goalscorer againgst ICT )(assuming he receives a Notice of Complaint and is not successful in his appeal). Surely that will inspire us to save our skins?

Motherwell appear to have had two legitimate goals not given this year and one illegitimate goal given. Consequently their position might have been better if there had been goal line technology. After the 10,000 seat rule perhaps we should start a campaign to require all SPFL teams to install such technology. My most clear memory of a goal not given was when Andy MacLaren beat Jim Calder all ends up, and even from the half way line it was obvious the ball had hit the underside of the cross bar and bounced down a metre over the line. When the spin took the ball back our a relieved Jim carried on as normal. MacLaren in his 'Tormented' career was subsequently sent off in that game partly for protesting that he had been denied a clear goal. I think the linesperson that day was either caught out by the speed of the attack or sun in his eyes. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scottish_cup/1175779.stm On a similar note Celtic continue to argue that Josh handled Griffiths shot....................you win some, you lose some but technology could help referees in football as it does increasingly in other sports.

Charlie that looks like 'Against all Odds' even more so and that was the birth. They have lost 7 games in a row but it seems unlikely they will lose 5 more in a row.

Cue 'Only the Brave'