Kingsmills

On the other hand, they will both have to undergo the upheaval and shock of adjusting to their reduced status. Hopefully, they will both deal with it as badly as we did whereas we are now familiar with the challenges of this division and in the last dozen games or began to get to grips with it and are in a position now to carry that into next season.

Pleased to see Livingston promoted for a number of reasons. Firstly; it freshens up both the Premiership and the Championship. One of the many issues with Scottish football is an ongoing sameness or staleness. The Premiership will have two different clubs next season and the Championship no less than four which, in my view, has to be a good thing. Secondly, they did it the hard way by coming through the uneven play off system which was cynically stacked against them and in favour of the incumbent top tier club. They will face a challenge next season with, almost certainly, the lowest budget in that league but they have earned the right to face that challenge. One in the eye for the self centred powers that be. Again, in my view, that can only be a good thing. Thirdly, at not leastly, Livvy gained promotion on half our crowds and no more than two thirds of our budget. If they can be promoted this season then proof and incentive, if that is needed, that there is no reason why we can't do the same next.

Whilst I largely agree, in my view both the exclusion of an Inverness team from the Scottish League and Wick from the Highland League were equally parochial and equally wrong. I appreciate that the geographical difficulties were substially greater then but, in each case, the aspiring team were only asking the existing members to make the journey once a seaon on league business whilst they were prepared to do so every second week. However, both wrongs were thankfully righted well over twenty years ago and what I do entirely agree with is the absurdly obsessed fixation with events that are almost half a century old and where the wrong obsessed about was put right a quarter of a century ago is pathetic.

Is there no positive news that you are not prepared to put a negative spin on these days ?

That makes a very refreshing change to have the new strips available and on sale before the beginning of June. Well done to those concerned.

In talks with the Dons.

The probably is probably superfluous.

My memory must be fading, I can't remember having a favourite Caley player ?

The plan is to sell the name on the shirt by the letter and resolve our financial woes at a stroke.

I was wondering who was going to be first to dust off that photo' ?

Absolutely. Two talented and highly motivated young players.

Very true. Even our higher profile pre season home matches have tended to be played in front of a scattering of fans in the Main Stand. Both Thistle and Caley used to get much bigger crowds when facing league opposition in pre season friendlies back in the Highland League days. Sadly, it did not take the vast majority of the Inverness public to become complacent about the standard and status of visiting teams unless it's Celtic, the Dons or whatever current legal entity is playing out of Ibrox who bring their own large numbers.

I too wish him all the best. However, whilst booing our own players is never acceptable in my view, giving stick to those who have chosen to move to our local rivals, even for the most understandable of personal motives, is an entirely different matter altogether.

It didn't come remotely close to smouldering.

I am aware of the rivalry between Derby County and Nottingham Forest. Does that really constitute a Derby derby ? Another footballing conundrum; who do the residents of the south end of Preston support ?

My goodness. I find myself in concurrence with Charles Bannerman. I sincerely hope that it's not habit forming.

Not to mention a substantial six figure sum on a manager who appeared to care even less.

Of course they can be replaced, no one is irreplaceable. However, we will be hard pushed indeed to find another player of Vigurs quality and commitment on the level of salary we can now afford. He is, without doubt, a loss.

Disappointing news and it's never good to hear players being abused by our own fans. However, Vigurs did not move to County because of a bit of stick from the stands. At the age of thirty, he moved for more money and an equally long deal without having the upheaval of having to relocate. I have no issue with him doing that but I sincerely hope that he is playing lower league football for at least a year longer than those who have chosen to remain.

'going down from the Premier League to the first division'. I have to say that it is refreshingly frank and honest of him to acknowledge that County are going to be relegated again next season.

That's what I said when the driving test examiner failed me yet again.

Thankfully, John Robertson seems very much to be looking forwards rather than backwards.

Good for him in some respects. He is a County fan and a member of the Ross Shire community and puts his money where his mouth is. Our job is to show him and County that money isn't everything and with team spirit, sound coaching and vocal backing from the stands we are capable of getting promoted on much more meagre resources.

I dream that we will win the Championship and Scottish Cup double next season. That's a fact.

Can't disagree but as long as next season the only thing that County are ahead of us on is their inflated wage bill and the quality of the catering I will happily take that.