Kingsmills

Not making a 200 mile round trip for this one given our current form and the fact that we are now out of the battle for Europe.

Don't be too critical, he got the second your right.

Has rimet not noticed that it's now 2nd April ?

If you take a moment to read Alex's post he is defending CC and questioning another poster's lowly ranking.

As well as depriving us of the income from a second Celtic match, the fact that the Aberdeen game is on a Friday is likely to mean about a thousand Dons fans fewer costing us tens of thousands of pounds between the two.

Personally, I thought that very insulting to our squad indeed and I fear it will do him no good in holding the dressing room. What an ill considered thing to say.

I can think of one reason.

So, done out of a cash generating second home game against Celtic with a third visit to Parkhead instead. Only to be expected from the Central Scotland League. Ach well, it gives us something else to moan about other than the manager.

How would you rank the permanent managers we've had over the past two decades in terms of achievement bearing in mind where the club was at the time they came in and the players an other resources at their disposal and putting aside any disappointment at the manner or timing of their leaving ? Personally, my order would be; 1. Steve Paterson 2. Terry Butcher 3.John Robertson 4. Craig Brewster (first time round) 5. Charlie Christie 6. Sergei Baltacha 7. John Hughes 8. Craig Brewster (second coming)

We definitely need to look at the recruitment process.Our board are successful very competent business people who run the commercial side of the club very ably but none of them have a specific knowledge of football any greater than the average fan. Nobody doubts the commitment of the board or their dedication to the club.We are in safe hands from a financial point of view. However, football is not a business like any other and having an eye for a good head coach is at least as difficult and specialised as scouting for players. It's not the fault of anyone currently on the board that they don't have that eye as nobody is good at everything. It's becoming increasingly clear that the process of recruiting and shortlisting went badly wrong with three of the final four being Yogi, Paul Telfer and Kenny Sheils. There's no point in looking back and apportioning blame, what's done is done but we do need to look to how we go about things next time around. We are not in a position to employ a full time director of football but, in my opinion, bringing in someone with a respected and successful football background to act as a consultant the next time we recruit a manager would be a relatively modest outlay well invested.

A few dozen young fans demanding the manager's head will have no impact on the board....and nor should it.

Personally, I don't believe that the appointment process with a charade nor do I believe that our commercially shrewd board would have gone for the short term cheapest option. He clearly wasn't appointed on the basis of his record with previous clubs as it is an objective fact rather than a matter of opinion that it's mediocre to say the very least. I can only assume that he must have been truly inspirational in his interviews but I can't square that with the John Hughes I have seen and heard. I don't actually understand why fans who were previously doubters were enthused by his initial press conference which was about as predictable and cliche ridden as they come.

I was not unhappy with Butcher's departure. He had brought success but was clearly restless himself and had probably reached his shelf life with the club. At the time I was hugely enthused at the prospect of an energised dynamic new manager coming in and taking us forward. As soon as I heard who we had appointed my enthusiasm and expectations immediately nose dived. Given that what is happening is no more than I expected from the manager my disappointment may not be as acute as others who expected Hughes to be a success. However, for the long term, we remain a decent club run along prudent financial lines. We have a decent squad of players many of whom are on extended contracts. I suspect the manager will be there for next season but after that we can maybe make a more inspired appointment and resume our ambitions. In the meantime I believe it's important to continue backing the players even if you've lost faith, assuming you ever had any, in the manager. John Hughes is temporary, ICT will survive and prosper after he's gone. Stick with it.

Not so sure about that. Hibs have a manager with a track record of being able to build a successful team if given time. Our manager's history offers no such cause for optimism.

Education education education...

Richie made it clear he didn't feel he's ready for that role yet.

As a serious question, is there anybody who thinks we would have done worse than we have if Duncan Shearer had been left in charge until the end of the season ?

Team still need to fight. We are in a battle with St Johnstone for fifth place and the extra £80,000 or so of place money which goes with it. A handy sum for a club of our size especially with our already modest crowds diminishing and likely to fall further.

You may be annoyed but surely you're not surprised. The team is doing what every team John Hughes has managed has done throughout his managerial career and with the same result. Next will come the factionalisation of the once united dressing room with some favourites and some outsiders which too has been a feature of every club he's managed. However, the manager is going nowhere this season or next so we need to get behind the team even if we do slide to sixth place this season and even more so next season which could well be a relegation battle. Treading water next season in the lower reaches of the division will be disappointing but not a disaster as long as we're not relegated. With the fans behind the team, the players are talented enough to get at least tenth next year even being as badly managed as they clearly are. It's easy to support a team who are entertaining and successful but now and probably next season is the time to get right behind the players. It is not their fault for failing if they are simply trying to do what they are being instructed to.

Firstly, on a positive note. Great that our two promising local lads have both scored in recent matches and credit to the manager for giving them the opportunity. However, two questions; One, Why, when Hughes said on his appointment that he was not going to alter a winning formula, did he almost immediately do just that ? Second, and more importantly, when is he going to recognise that it's not working and take some action to put it right ?

Do the Merkinch team have special dispensation to play with baseball bats ?

Or the more specialised version of which Inverness secondary school.

Good initiative. Get is more widely broadcast.

Gentlemen. A wee reminder about the rules of the forum pertaining to personal abuse. If you are not familiar with them I suggest you take a look now.

Forever in our mini shadows...