Kingsmills

Way more entertainment indeed. We have ourselves a shrewd young manager fully committed to the cause.

To be fair, they did hammer the team making their debut in the top league.

Does anyone seriously believe that it would not have been given at the other end ?

I have witnessed some superb goalkeeping displays over 22 years of following ICT, most notably from club legend Jim Calder but that performance by OFW today, especially in the second half, might just be the best of the lot. Getting our Welsh Wizard signed up on a long term contract over the Summer is looking an increasingly shrewd piece of business.

Which of your two contradictory pictorial posts do you want us to pay attention to ?

Agreed, what they have in common is that they are both good proven coaches. What they also have in common is that they are much more suspect when it comes to management.

Agree with IHE, excellent and incisive maiden post. Welcome aboard.

I agree entirely. It has been a successful transfer window in that we have not lost anyone and have strengthened the squad, if not necessarily the first choice starting XI in key areas and, as RIG says, we now have options up front for the first time in a very long time. If there is any sense of disappointment at all it was created by Richie's comments earlier in the window that we were close to a signing that would 'excite the fans and players alike'. Whoever that was clearly fell through. Richie has proved himself shrewd and quick to learn and I suspect will play a similar card closer to his chest next time but it is encouraging to know that we at least tried to make such a marquee signing. It's also good to have a manager prepared to communicate more positively with the fans and media, who is articulate and doesn't constantly resort to tired old clichés.

I am more concerned with keeping what we have.

To lose either would be a blow to lose both would be devastating. Let's hope both rumours are without foundation.

Most successful manager. The stats don't lie and back that up. The best ? Not in my book.

...and struggling to find one.

The fact is that JH is now part of our past and, due to his own actions, a somewhat tarnished part of our past at that. We now have a new manager who is admittedly inexperienced but is learning all the time, who is happy to listen to and respect the views of senior players. I suspect that Yogi would have regarded the recent players meeting as dissent rather than as a positive thing as Richie clearly does. A manager who is happy to be here, who has a good relationship with the board and chairman, who does not leave out key players out of petty revenge and who is content with his budget which is the maximum we can afford and is not to stubborn to change things when they are clearly not working. ICT and Richie Foran have a bright future in the game. I doubt that the same can be said for John Hughes.

Whatever, the Sun report can surely be disregarded.

Should we be concerned that they describe our new forward as a defender ?

Could be just what's needed....

Slightly loose journalism. Scottish clubs will receive a 'solidarity bonus' in the region of two million pounds depending on the exchange rate with the Euro at the relevant time. However, that goes to the SPFL and some will, quite properly, filter down to the lower leagues. Our share is likely to be closer to £100,000 than £200,000. Nevertheless a welcome bonus.

As fine a player as he was for us, the last thing we and he needs at the moment is the distraction of playing as well.

The new manager is still finding his feet with regard to what and how much to share with the media and fans and when. I have no doubt that he and others are working hard to bring in players to improve both the starting XI and the squad. Give him a break.

Or does it simply mean that journalists are speculating in the absence of any actual information ?

Personally, I would prefer to raise both hands and all ten fingers in celebration once we beat the Dons yet again.

With our budget, that is a given.

A bit of a risk signing a player of mature years who has recently been prone to injury and a risk that seems to have backfired in the case of Kevin McNaughton. Nevertheless, given that we have not had an experienced forward since Ofere left, it's a risk I would be willing to take.

The best thing to come out of Forfar since the bridie.

Liking the traditional club crest.