Kingsmills

More accurately, he was not treated badly by the club only by one former manager. A tremendous servant for five years and instrumental in our historic cup winning season. It's no coincidence that our defence improved immeasurably when he and Tremarco returned to the team. I would have loved to see him remain for the remainder of this season at least but it seems inevitable that he will be going next month, in which case, he goes with my thanks for the memories and very best wishes for his future and that of his family. A talented, loyal and committed player and a great guy into the bargain.

Agreed. Given our very limited redourses, leaving at lunch time the day before with a view to staying overnight in Dumfries is excellent preparation. The fact that there seems to have been a very serious road traffic accident puts a game of football into perspective. On balance, I think that the SPFL have made the right decision. The circumstances, though far from ideal, do not justify a postponement.

It was indeed under his stewardship that we ran up debts of almost three million pounds, well over twice our annual turnover at the time. Had it not been for that level of debt, the club would still be the principal lease holders for the whole of the land on which the stadium and car parks sit and we would not be having many of the issues we are now. However, just because he was part of the problem nearly two decades ago doesn't mean that he can't potentially be part of the solution now. Despite that history, he deserves a fair hearing on what he has to say now.

I think we are in for an 'interesting' time in the next few months. The forthcoming AGM may be the start of it but will be very far from the end.

Or the knowledge and ability to generate money.

Never has the word probably been more superfluous.

Be thankful for small mercies. At least we no longer have to suffer James Traynor as well.

Agreed. I am normally not a fan of managers criticising officials for making honest mistakes but this performance was beyond incompetent and needed to be said.

I am not sure I agree that that does take care of the football bit. Graeme Bennett did a fine job once upon a time especially in identifying and appointing managers and was a good Director of Football in his day. However, that day was a very long time ago now and, in my view, we need someone with more up to date knowledge of the current Scottish football scene. Turning the clock back with the appointment of Robbo was a risk which, after a very shaky start, now seems to be paying off but IO remain very far from convinced that we should be taking a similar risk in this respect.

Baird has a past reputation to live of ? We played some decent football today, especially in the first half, in the face of cynical opposition and hopelessly incompetent officials. Our continuing problem is that we that we don't have a forward capable of scoring regularly. That was an issue that was hard enough to solve with Premiership resources and is all the more difficult now. We won't be promoted this season but nor are we in any great danger of a second successive relegation. Robbo is gradually getting a team to gel and if we can use the rest of this season to fine tune that and add a bit of quality to the squad then we will be in a much better position to mount a promotion push next season.

Or has a knowledge of football which is lacking in the board as currently constituted.

I am assuming, since the club have not informed us otherwise, that there is no pitch inspection and the game is not in doubt. At least, that was my assumption until the question 'when is the pitch inspection?' was asked.

Is there a pitch inspection ?

What really matters is not exactly how many minutes we've gone without conceding but how much longer we can preserve that record. Another ninety odd minutes today would be a great start in that regard.

Don't forget the £7 discount on the replica club uniform.

Impressed with the offer of free delivery but, unless they are going to the Hebrides, do we have to adopt the American terminology of 'shipping' or cite the dreadful US import of 'Black Friday' ?

Maybe so but they have asked for a fresh start and, in my view, deserve the benefit of the doubt. We have a club shop fit for purpose after more than a decade with a portacabin, we have better and more regular communication and we now seem to be getting our act together on the pitch for the first time in a long time. A lot of work still to be done and still huge room for improvement but so far so good.

Surprised and disappointed that the previous regime factored a seventh place finish into the annual budget. Yes, we enjoyed success in previous years but a club with our limited resources, particularly with a completely untried and novice manager, should never have assumed better than tenth place regarding anything better as a windfall bonus. I assume that lessons have been learned and we won't make the same mistake again if and when we gain top league status again.

To be fair to the SPL at the time, whilst they insisted on USH, they did relax the 10,000 seat rule for us. A rare example of fairness and common sense from our football authorities.

Yup. We never had a single match called off due to weather conditions before the SPL forced us to install undersoil heating.

It used to happen until about fifty years ago but produced too many mis matches. The SFA don't often get things right but I rather like the way the competition has been organised in recent seasons. The Highland and Lowland League sides together with the best of the Juniors all get to play in the tournament proper and those that survive until the fourth round to face the prospects of being drawn against the top teams have got there on merit.

Pity but at least we have five hours notice. Welcome post from the club.

A big game on Saturday as far as any ambitions for a play off place are concerned but we need to concentrate on tonight first. No room at all for complacency and three points against Brechin will, come the end of the season, count for just as much as three points against St Mirren.

I know that we have long been naive in transfer dealings but surely we would not have been so daft as to let Hughes anywhere near the detailed terms of the transfer.

Weeks ago. Today is the draw for the fourth round.