davie

I realise that people might be disappointed with the outcome, but it was probably the best that Jennifer Aitchieson and I could do. The SPFL were broadly sympathetic to our plight and certainly listened to our case. They did explain their reasons for selecting the venue ( which we were aware of anyway) and did acknowledge that the game being selected by the BBC for broadcast was the reason for the 12:15 kick off. We explained the transport difficulties that this would cause, so it then became a question of what the SPFL would do to offset this, if no movement was to be made otherwise. They gave assurances that they were going to consider what they could do around buses and trains, and would come back to us next thursday with a detailed proposal. Give them their due, the details of the conference call that will take place were with us within an hour. We will hold them to what they offer us, and we will make sure that any offer is adequate. We won't pre-empt them though. I was prepared not to like Neil Doncaster much, but he did come across as a man who was genuinely surprised by the publicity campaign that we had waged and though his organisation had better react in a reasonable manner - we were, after all, the first supporters group they have actively engaged.The support from the media has been excellent.I get the feeling that the SPFL will think twice about doing this to us again, and they know that if they do, we will be back at them.Anybody want to bet against that being the semi final of the scottish cup ? Thank you to everyone on this site who took the time to support us and sign our petition. Your voice has been heard, and we appreciate you being there. Please feedback either on here or on the CJT site, and we'll do our utmost to answer you. edited for knackered spelling

If you put a fence round kickback, you could call it an asylum.

grand, I'll get the boat from aberdeen and tie myself to the bar until I get a kip. Gets in at 08:00, so plenty of time for breakfast. See, you can get anywhere if you go for it! p.s. I cycled back the last time. Figure that one out!

“Caley Jags Together have been invited to meet with Iain Blair, Secretary and Neil Doncaster, CEO of the SPFL at Hampden Park on 28th November to discuss the on-going concern regarding the arrangements for the League Cup semi-final game against Heart of Midlothian on 2nd February 2014. We go in to this meeting with unprecedented backing from Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, football fans all over the country, local and national politicians and media. We intend to discuss the issues fully and sensibly in order that we can come to an arrangement that suits both sets of supporters – after all they are the lifeblood of the game and we want to see as many as possible enjoy a fantastic day out in February. We thank everyone who has supported our campaign so far and will update everyone as soon as we are able to. Please continue to sign our petition at http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/spfl-change-the-time-of-the-ict-v-hearts-semi-final ”

This is fantastic news, and sends a clear message about how this club is held in great regard by players and fans alike . Overwhelmingly positively. Cheers Richie!

petition is now through the 1000 figure - please keep it going! Ta.

You are wrong Dougal Davie

It's well respected as an award, and the recipient is equally well respected. Kenny is a fan of the club as well as Chairman and his commitment and passion for it are unbounded. Have one conversation with the man and you will realise this. Another great achievement for ICTFC.

If we can get as many people to sign this as possible, I'd love to give it to Neil Doncaster where it might be least comfortable (metaphorically speaking of course) BTW, Fergus Ewing MSP; David Stewart MSP, Leader of The Council and Cllr. Richard Laird have all indicated their support. You really should join them and petition at http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/spfl-change-the-time-of-the-ict-v-hearts-semi-final?sign_only=fe

We recieved a reply today from the SPFL to arrange an urgent meeting between CJT and Iain Blair and Neil Doncaster at the SPFL. We will see what the outcome of that meeting is, but it is heartening that a speedy reply has been recieved. We'll keep you posted. Davie Balfour

Yes. The full text of the letter sent to the SPFL is now on line at http://www.ictsupporterstrust.co.uk/ We'll publish the reply that we get, and any of the letters of support that we have requested - and there's a few of them. We were featured in nearly every scottish daily today, on sportsound last night and we're not finished yet. We need our fans at this game, and we will find a way to get them there in comfort and safety. Thanks for your support. Davie Balfour

Why not switch coverage to alba and KO to 3? Just an idea.

Caley Jags Together tonight released the following statement regarding the League Cup semi final date and venue: "Caley Jags Together, the ICT Supporters Organisation are today writing to the SPFL to register the strongest possible protest against the time and venue for the Scottish League Cup Semi Final between Inverness Caley Thistle and Heart of Midlothian. The choice of venue and timing make it almost impossible for the majority of Highland based ICT fans to attend this game due to the lack of public transport and this will do nothing to enhance the image of the cup when swathes of empty seats are televised to the nation. The SPFL should re-examine this decision as quickly as possible in order to ensure that our fans can attend what is an extremely important match for them and the team. We hope that the SPFL see sense". A full letter will be sent to the SPFL tomorrow morning, and the full text will be available on the Caley Jags Together web site at www.ictst.co.uk. We also intend to conduct an on line petition against this dreadful decision, and further details will be posted here.

Never mind as chair of Caley Jags Together, as a fan I am raging about this. If the SPL wanted to voice their contempt of us, they really couldn't have done it any better. CJT will fight this with every available weapon, and we will publish a detailed statement here later on tonight or early tomorrow. This is one we really need to fight as quickly and loudly as possible - it just isn't on.

I suppose, like everyone else I'm just glad this is over. The longer it dragged on, the more Terry and Maurice's achievements would have been soured by the nature of their departure and they achieved too much at this club for that to happen. I'm glad the club offered Mo the chance to take over the reins and minimise the fallout from Terry's departure and I know how desperately disappointed Kenny Cameron will be right now, but he and his board have conducted business the way that Caley Thistle always do - the right way and they are to be congratulated on that. Like every Caley Thistle fan, I am now anxious about what comes next but I'm heartened by the statement tonight but I'm at least thankful for this international break as we draw breath. As Kenny says, we have a fantastic pedigree of appointing bosses and I look forward to seeing who emerges as candidates. In amongst all of this, don't forget the team who have got us this far in our best seaon to date and please get along to the Saints game in numbers to give them your loud, clear and unconditional support. They deserve it. Davie Balfour

Today was a day that made me so proud to support Caley Thistle. It would have been no injustice to see us win by 4 or 5 goals, and we were inches away from it. In every position we bettered Hibs, and their players and fans were utterly subdued at the end. Shinnie, Foran and Ross bettered the others on the park merely by virtue of being better tha excellent. Watching Ben Williams going to be interviewed was like watching a man going to his own funeral, and he admitted so himself. It took Hibs rep a while to find anyone willing to face the press. I spoke to Kenny Cameron after the game, and he described both the team and the support as "magnificent" and due thanks. I think he understates things. He also spoke of the fans as being one of the main reasons that this team play out of their skins time and time again; words of a man who cares passionately for his club, and with that fierce passion at the helm we will always succeed. Whatever reason Terry Butcher had for being at the game in the company of his representative, in the Hibs stand is his, and his alone, to explain but it is not the behaviour the Caley Thistle fans would expect or demand of him, no matter the outcome of this saga. Today our team showed why we deserve to be second top of this league, and they also showed why that level of achievement is not dependant on one man, and never will be. Second top? better believe it, it's the least we can achieve this year.

Jonah, I've PM'd you

Aaron Doran had a great game today, and just about shaded Foran in the standout stakes. We played some great football, and if Draper had scored from the move that set him up you could close the bets on goal of the season. As it was, Shinnie's goal wasn't far behind. We completely dominated the first half and seemed to take our foot off the gas a wee bit after we scored the second but it was a comprehensive victory. Keep this going and the match against Celtic here in december could be really interesting, in terms of who goes into christmas top of the league.

I'd have to say that attempting to unscrew Graeme Shinnie's head is not within the rules of the game, and any attempt at going for the assistant ref (I've been tempted myself this year! ) is liable to be really frowned upon. I've been surprised and really disappointed by the United fans reaction to this, with the majority of their fans blaming Foran for starting the whole thing off when none of them were in a position to witness what happened with him and GMS. It's a real shame, as it looks as if it could blight the relationship that we've always enjoyed with DUFC. I would also caution people not to give any credence to the lunacy that is "United mad" There are few places in the internet poster's gene pool that are as murky.

I believe that is the case. Joy.

From what I could see (and had a pretty good view) GMS actually moved in towards Foran, looking for contact and a free kick when he realised he was in a blind alley with Tremarco covering. Foran neglected to get out of the way, and although I couldn't swear to this I reckon he's battered his head off Foran's shoulder and gone down like a ton of bricks. I have some sympathy with this, and judging by the lump on his head it was a sore one. His fault, but a sore one. Terry was riled because he had a perfect view of how GMS had engineered the challenge and landed at his feet, and I think might have still been irritated by Paton's fall to the floor when Draper ran past him. Still probably should have walked way, but there you are. The problems started when United then went in en masse to "defend" GMS and it got a bit silly after that. I do wonder with all the bile that's coming from United though. The card "score" tells its own story.

Uncle Roy's brother It's no me anyway.

As others have said, I can take a defeat. Last week, you could say nothing other than we were rotten, deserved nothing out of the game and that's exactly what we got. Today was a different story. It was an open game from the off between two sides that played the ball on the deck whenever they could, and with luck, we could have been two goals up in 15 minutes. That's not indicative of a poor performance.However, we weren't up but whichever way you want to look at it Partick never looked threatening until they took a well worked goal. That was it from them in an attacking sense until Dean Brill gave them an unintentional hand. Gary Warren's equaliser should have cued an onslaught and that's exactly what would have happened if Foran's goal had stood, as Partick would have had to come out and chase the game. We would have picked them off as we did Hibs. That brings us to the officials. I've watched some pretty awful displays in my time but very few when you can actually say that refereeing incompetence actually won someone a game. That was one of them. Doran's goal was a lack of knowledge from the officials and at this level that's unacceptable. I don't know what the linesman was thinking; I've heard at least three pseudo explanations and not one makes sense. Ross Draper told him what he was doing and he acknowledged him (a conversation clearly picked up by Sky) and nothing contrary to the rules took place thereafter. It was therefore a perfectly good goal. As if that's not bad enough, Issac Osbourne should have been sent off in the second half, and the referee was going for his card after a lunge at Draper but changed his mind. Why? The decision to disallow Foran's goal was mystifying. Scott Fox, who had behaved "professionally" all afternoon, actually hauled Billy Mckay into the net. If it wasn't a goal, it was penalty. The tin hat for me was Mr. Norris pulling Polwarth back at the end when he was through on goal for a clear scoring chance, to award a free kick for a previous tackle. There are those who will say that the officials can and do have an off day, and that's true. In any other profession if you clearly misapplied the rules, ignored others and didn't even know an important one you'd be fairly lucky to be in a job after it, never mind protected by your employers as Mr. Norris will be despite the fact that his team of officials are the reason we lost that game.

And I'll help him

God that was awful. It's not often you struggle to find something positive, but yesterday was one of those days. I think it also feels so bad because we have been so good at home this year and have some real highs to compare it to, so it may simply be a bad day at the office. Too many important players had a day to forget, and so the ones brought in really struggled. polworth was dreadfully exposed, but then draper and foran were floundering and unable to help. If greenhalgh had come into that game, it would have meant putting nick ross into the middle where he would have been bullied out of it completely by a pretty well rampant saints. Losing Dave Raven to injury was a real blow, shows you the importance of a settled back four. Ach well, you go from that second half against Hibs to yesterday in the space of a week - that's why we love football.