davie

Massive achievement for a player who has really raised his game this year, congratulations.

Ross we're just waiting on Ian Auld to add a commentary and then we're there. As soon as it's ready, we'll be in touch.

I am perfectly comfortable with people holding opposing views to mine, and quite happy to disagree without denegrating them. There were proposals on the table which both Roy MacGregor (County chief reveals he voted against reconstruction because he listened to fans throughout the country - daily record 16.04.13) and Stuart Gilmour (who has said he will release a statement later, but also quoted " the great majority" in his origninal club statement) voted against and both quoted their belief that they were reflecting the views of the "majority by attaching qualifying criteria to their opinions of fans and what we want. Both have therefore said that they believe fans did not want change (and the only change we can really talk about is the one that was on the table - the rest is speculation) so that is what they have said. Demonstrably no distortion on my part.

Find this a pretty disappointing point of view from someone meant to represent us as fans. Also, paragraphs are your friend Sorry if you found this a disappointing viewpoint, probably inevitable as there seem to be pretty polarised views on this. If you wanted change (and a lot of people did) then it was frustrating to see St Mirren and County block it. If you didn't want change, and the anti-change group have been better at putting their views forward, it's been a good day. Only time will tell.

So that's it then, no change in a game that seeks a new major sponsor this year and has to look again at tv rights soon. No change in a game that at least we can all agree is dying by degree in this country. Dying because we couldn't try something new by simply altering with a points resetting a split in the league that we already have anyway and we could have altered after three years. No change in the cash distribution (how many more clubs after Dunfermline will we be saying goodbye to?) No pyramid that allows genuine progress on merit. No change to a derided 11:1 voting system. Why? because of the utter self interest of the two chairmen of two clubs who thought that they might be at risk of ending up in that split group and couldn't see the bigger picture. It's a shame that the picture has been clouded by the single issue of a bigger SPL. It simply isn't sustainable because the fans that have shouted loudest are those of clubs who are at the greatest risk of losing out on SPL status. They're not coming through the turnstiles in greater numbers, they're not investing in their clubs and they're not offering credible alternatives even after the clubs did their bidding last summer. They are just sitting in the back of the cave, afraid to come out and face the new. OK, the 12-12-18 wasn't perfect but it could have protected us from what I reckon will now be ratcheted up pressure for The Rangers to be accellerated into the top tier and boost income the old way. After all, according to St Mirren & County, we don't want change. We might just have seen the biggest cutting off your nose to spite your face that Scottish football has seen in years, but at least we know exactly where the blame lies.

Jamie, It was me that was asked as Chairman, and I gave the opinion. I'm fully aware that not all fans are happy with any of the proposals, indeed neither am I - but only with some. What I am though, is realistic. I've seen the damage that was done by us being relegated and I genuinely believe that if it happened again we'd find it difficult to survive. So, if the package on offer readjusts the cash distribution to make the prospect easier, amalgamates one or more of the governing bodies, does away with the iniquitous 11:1 voting system and gives us a genuine pyramid system then three years of a league system that I think could be better is (in my opinion) a price worth paying. If it doesn't work, we can reassess it in three years from a position of strength - not the panic we're in now. After we were appraised by Kenny Cameron, we advertised and held discussions on reconstruction at our recent AGM which was publicised on this site and on CJT's site. Members were invited to attend. We talked to people and changed quite a few opinions although not all - but we did ask and quite a number responded. I'm happy also to discuss this with you if you PM me and give me some contact details. Given the season that we've had, where we might be next year and a greater say in the future of scottish football, is it really worth giving up your season ticket? I hope not. Davie

Thing is, it hasn't been proved it doesn't work. It just didn't in switzerland and for a variety of reasons. As various people have already said, the reason for change NOW is that there is a window to alter the voting structure that won't be there in a couple of years if we sit on our hands. The status quo will have been restored and the west coast city dwellers will be happy. So it has to be now, or never really. It's always going to happen that change will bring some kind of uncertainty, but that's no reason not to change. So change now, and then if the league is as bad as some are predicting (although I fail to see how) we at least have a voting structure that allows us to tinker with it.

Ross, nothing will cheer you up after that. But yes, they will be up soon.

Brilliant. Couldn't have happened to a nicer or more deserving bloke.

Ach well, you can thaw, refreeze and become quite consolidated ross! My pace is glacial already, so if I froze I doubt if anyone would notice. Seriously though, we should be alright. No snow to speak of and the wind is doing a good job of keeping the worst of the frost off. Fingers crossed.......and it would be great to see a few hardy souls coming along tomorrow for an afternoon's entertainment and showing your support for ICT and Caley Jags Together. The more who come along, the more we raise.

I can confirm that Ryan Esson and Gary Warren are sadists. At least the press up victims thought so. A good session tonight, and some lessons learned for sunday. We'll be ok if we keep our shape and talk to each other. All fans be at TCS by 1:00 pm at the latest - we have a game plan to talk over. Seriously, many thanks to Ryan And Gary for giving up their own time to support the fans side. Quality.

A certain John Robertson has been added to the Legends side. I think he qualifies..........

Fingers crossed Gringo - the forecast looks not bad! Not exactly tropical, but not bad.

ICT fans XI v ICT Legends & Friends XI Come along on sunday to watch the match the weather never wanted you to see! A legends and friends XI including Charlie Christie, Jimmy Calder, Barry Wilson, Stuart Golabek, Al Hercher and others managed by Mike Noble are taking on a fans XI at Tulloch Caledonian Stadium at 1:30pm. If you want to know all of the legends that are playing, you'll just have to come along! It's organised by ICTFC and Caley Jags Together and sponsored by The Castle Tavern, MacDougall & Hastie, Paul Cumming and The Innes Bar. Entry is free, but Caley Jags Together would appreciate a donation which will be used to promote ICTFC and its fans throughout the Highlands. Entry is through the away players entrance and the main stand will be open on the day. The sports bar will also be open for the duration of the game for food & drinks. This is the first match of its kind that we have organised, and all of the fans have paid for the chance to play on the pitch against a legends side full of ICT heroes and we need you to come along and create an atmosphere that they won't forget. We can't promise SPL quality football (well I can't anyway!) but we can promise you a laugh and a bit of nostalgia on a football free weekend. We'd be really chuffed if you could come. Davie Balfour Chairman, Caley Jags Together

Unfortunately Smee, they are not. It appears that their horse drawn universe ran out of straw yesterday and imploded. Their leader dug in his hoofs and threw a tantrum as big as, well, culbokie. At a push. I really don't fancy their chances against Killie. Shame really.

BEST.EVER. Top 6 at last! Now let's aim for Europe - together. If we get there, it's a dream come true. If we don't it won't be for the want of trying.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread, viewed the video, tweeted and facebooked about this. OK, it's a bit OTT, but I had actually pressured the ubergeek (Caley D) that did it even more so. So you're a lucky lot really. But it's done what it set out to do - with thousands of hits, it's got people talking about this game and thinking of going. Only question is, what do we do for the next one? Ritchie & OTJ as spartans? Terry & Mo as gladiators? Deek as an itinerant knife sharpener? It's a good day - let's make it a great one. Mon the Caley Jags.

Not sure where that comes from..... I understand that the club are really busy today and that tickets are shifting. If people are concerned, get your mates on board, get them to buy tickets and get them in the Caley Jags end. You know it makes sense.

It's not that sad Gordie. Every club in europe has much the same problem ; there ain't that much money around and if it's a question of tightening your belt (as it is for a lot of people) then things like footie go first. we'll see what the crowd is like on Saturday, but I'm relaxed about it - as long as we win!

I'll go halfers with you on that one

Caley Jags Together stands fully behind Terry Butcher and his Team in calling on every Caley Thistle fan to get behind their team this Saturday for this crucial highland derby. All of our support needs to be in the stands to shout, sing and outchant our neighbours in what promises to be an epic battle for a place in the top six in scottish football. The least we might achieve on Saturday is the most we have ever done, so be there to see it. Buy your tickets now. Get down to the stadium, get on the phone, get online and make sure of your place. Tickets are selling fast, so don't leave it to chance. Wear your colours all this week - a tie, a scarf, a shirt. Wear them to work, to the pub, in town. Let everyone know we are here. Sound your car horn when you see a fellow fan; get on the phone to local radio for phone in's, requests, whatever. Make sure that they know who we are and what we are and that our voices are heard above all. If you are coming to the game on Saturday, bring a friend - it shouldn't be hard to persuade them. You can be sure that our "noisy neighbours" will be as up for this as us, so we have to make sure that we have the voice. We have the team, we have the numbers and we need you to make sure that there is only one winner this Saturday. Go here to be inspired! Davie Balfour Chairman, Caley Jags Together

^^^^^^^ what he said. I do think that other teams have learned how to stop us playing and we need to mix it up, and after we get top 6 anything is possible. Over the bridge might as well be 1000 miles away for all I care about what they do. This is about us.

My match report's done.... But that was a horrible surface to try and play on - it was like glue. The penalty boxes were both ploughed and it was really only when I walked across the pitch at the end that I could figure out how strong the wind was out there. Allied to the fact that Dundee fought like hell, it wasn't a bad point.Glad we won't have to go back there this season all things being well.

I suspect that many, like me are scared stiff of how this might all pan out, and people react to that in many different ways. Some will downplay the significance and then enjoy an explosion of relief (ooer...) when and IF things go our way. Some will just enjoy the journey and some (like me) will have bitten their fingernails to the elbow by the time the split and then the end of the season comes! But just nip back to August/ September's forum posts and look at the ambitions we had for this year of armageddon. We've fulfilled them all and more and even if we didn't win another game this season that would still be true. I know that expectations adjust as circumstances change but I tell you what, it's now more than ever that this team need a positive vibe around them to get them to the finishing post. They need us, the supporters, to get right behind the team - especially this week. Every ICT supporter worth his salt needs to bust a gut to be there on Saturday and to leave without a single vocal chord intact. We need to outnumber, outsing and outsupport our neighbours if we are to get where we want to be. We need drums, we need flags. Saturday will get us into the top six for the first time ever and after that, who knows. Maintain third and anything is possible without any real pressure. We need unconditional, unequivocal support all week. We need CTO, P&B and OTB to be flooded with our agenda, our team and we need everyone there on saturday. I'll be there, doing my best to crank it up in the local media with a Caley Thistle agenda right at the front. I confidently predict Caley D will stir the pot to boiling point on the day and that Terry and the team will be jumping for this one. You never know, it might just work.

More certified than licenced I think manfer. No McGonagall or anything - but I'll no be back in the sneck by 19:00, never mind reporting.