DoofersDad

That's what Hitler said in 1938.

With all this uncertainty this thread could well get more posts than the Butcher offski thread.

Apparently at least 3 bookies now have him as hot favourite. 2nd in the league with a team secure till the end of next season and a stable and sensible Board, the club should be able to attract an excellent short list. It appears that there are a lot of candidates from which a good shortlist should be able to be produced. I cannot see how Sutton could possibly find his way onto the short list with his extremely modest record to date. Can anyone give any explanation why he has suddenly appeared as a hot favourite for the post? Has our former manager been spending his much increased salary by placing silly bids just to cause alarm?

Not often we all agree on here but this is one bit of news which seems to be welcomed by all. A great bit of work by our Board. It is interesting that prior to "Hibsgate" Foran was saying that he was surprised that Butcher had not renewed his contract with the club and would wait until he had decided what he was doing before himself deciding what to do. Well Butcher's b*ggered off and Richie has almost immediately committed himself to stay. I wonder what that says about how Richie feels about the man who's favoured son he has been these last few years! It is not just great news that Foran has signed a 3 year deal because of the player he is, it is great news because he is the captain and his example will maybe convince one or two others to stay. It is actually amazing to see just how many of the first choice XI are signed up to the end of next season or beyond so there is real reason to believe that if we continue to do well this season, the continuity of personnel will see us push on even further next season. Some folk have been saying we will miss Marsala more than Butcher or Malpas. Well, it looks like we won't miss him at all next season - there'll be no vacant places to fill.

Chris Sutton at 11/10! Appointing him would be a risk. He has very limited experience of management - a short and mediocre spell at Lincoln followed by his current role at struggling Wrexham. Surely the Board will not take that big a risk. I'm warming to Shiels. He's the sort of outspoken character you make fun of when he's ranting on behalf of another team, but when someone is ranting like that on behalf of your team then he becomes the sort of person you want on your side. We've had a go at him here in the past but if he was appointed I think he would quickly endear himself to the fans and players alike. I think he will tick a lot of boxes for ICT and obviously he knows the Scottish game well.

You'ld need the 12.15 kick off then in case the lights failed again.

Yes, but it would also imply that Butcher had not been as honest with Foran as Foran would like. Foran said that he was surprised Butcher had not got his contract with ICT tied up. Well, the reason for that was because big Tel wanted out the door. I think Butcher's character has become a lot clearer to people this last week. He uses people. He is as nice as anything when it suits him but then casts them aside when they are no longer of value to him. Foran is just the sort of player Butcher likes and therefore he has nurtured him and supported him over the years. But Foran is getting on a bit and will only have a couple more seasons at best at the top level. Butcher might come in for Foran if he thinks he can do a job for Hibs in next season but as soon as Foran has lost that bit of pace he'll just toss him aside. If Foran want to do his coaching qualifications then he would be far better to stay here where the club is supportive of those who are loyal to the club. Richie, if a big guy with with a wide eyed stare and a green tie comes offering you the pleasures of Leith - just say No.

I think his wife is from Spean Bridge Let him manage Fort William then. If he wins the Highland League next season we'll offer him a job. Seriously though, he might be a decent shout. He's got a good footballing brain and whilst he has no track record of club management he could do well. Mind you, if he did do well I doubt he'd stay long.

Well, that was something he'd never win up here

What reign? Even with us without a manager, he is still not the best manager in the Highlands.

Did you see Fenlon's interview on his departure? Quite bizarre. He was enjoying it and had sorted out a lot of problems that had existed when he arrived but just somehow felt it was time to step aside. Not one single thing that sounded like a half decent reason for going. It looked as though everything he was saying was almost tongue in cheek.

Well, the 3 of them are off. I'm disappointed but not surprised that Butcher's gone. For me, this was inevitable following on from the Barnsley fiasco. What I felt was extraordinary at the time was how so many people then thought he had behaved honourably and hailed him as a hero when he pledged his aleigence to ICT. The basic behaviour was no different. He wanted away and the reason he didn't go was absolutely nothing to do with the pull of this club or the area. The reason he didn't take the money was because for whatever reason he couldn't take Malpas with him. He's failed on his own before and he knew he would fail on his own again. There was nothing honourable about the way he behaved then . The difference now is that he has been able to take Malpas with him. What he really thinks about ICT was clearly demonstrated by his turning up at Easter Road, whilst still ICT's manager, and watching the match from the main stand. It was just the sheer indifference of the man towards the club that has given him the opportunity of success these last few years that struck me. We're nothing as far as he is concerned. For me the intriguing aspect of all of this is the timing. When he got the approach from Barnsley we were really flying - much as we are now. He chose the point when we were on a high to make his move almost as though he had no confidence that we would see it through to success and that therefore he would be seen as a failure. It was as though he needed to catch the eye of potential suitors when it looked as though he was a successful manager despite the fact that he'd never won anything in his life except the promotion with us. And for no hope Barnsley! He was never going to win anything there but perhaps avoiding relegation could be construed as success. We took a significant drop of form after the Barnsley fiasco. It was as though once all the euphoria of his return had died down the reality that he had wanted away hit the players. We rallied at the end but it is my belief that we would have won a European place and probably got to the league cup final at least had he had a little more faith in his players and not gone down to "listen to what Barnsley had to say". And now he's off to Hibs just as we are looking good to improve on last year. Again he seems to lack the belief in his players to actually win something. He seems to want to be managing a team where success is measured in simply doing better than you were doing before and not in actually winning something. It's all show, all illusion. He doesn't believe he will ever be genuinely successful so surrounds himself with the illusion of success and then wants out before the illusion disappears. He doesn't give a toss about this club. It's only number 1 that matters. My theory - and this may come as a totally new thought to some - is that he's simply a narcisist!

Nah. With a name like that he'd be here for 6 months and then off to Hibs to replace Butcher

Best: Signing for ICT Worst: Signing for Hibs

What I want to know is, what are the odds of this thread becoming longer than the Butcher Offski thread?

I don't have anyone particular in mind. What's important is for the club to be clear about what they want from a manager. We have a great team here, many of whom are signed up to at least the end of next season, and which has demonstrated that it is capable of playing a good attacking passing game. We need that to continue, indeed we need to develop what we've seen this season and be more positive when we are ahead. We want someone who recognises that attack is the best form of defence and that the opposition is not going to score if you don't give them the ball. We are not a rich club and never will be. Managers need to understand that we need to focus on identifying and getting the best out of players who have unrealised potential. It also means having a strong youth development policy. There is simply no point getting a big name manager who is used to working with top players who then blames the failure of the team on the Board's refusal to spend big on players. Matching the manager with the strategy may not throw up the obvious candidates. But the club has come a long way and has a tremendous record of bringing in managers who do better here than they have elsewhere. Many of these managers have then been tempted by big money at a bigger club with a different philosophy and have failed miserably. The important thing for us as fans is to get behind the new manager whoever it is. The Board will be looking long term and it would be surprising if the new manager did not experience some dip from the elevated position we are currently in. I have confidence in the Board to make a good choice and look forward to the next chapter in the proud history of our club.

See there's 32 guests on the forum. Presumably potential candidates looking to see what we think of them.

It's a shame but I guess he just prefers being no2. Lots of people do. Can't say I have any ill will at him leaving.

I almost agree with Bughtmaster but I think things have moved on. Players may have come up here because of Butcher but now there will be a recognition that several players whose careers apeared to be going nowhere have come good in a big way up here. The club is developing a reputation for getting results beyond what you might expect for its budget and therefore players have really got nothing to lose by coming up here. The Butcher name will be far less important than it was. I also agree that there is no reason why we should lose players this season and no reason why the team should not progress to success at the end of the season. But what we will not do is win the league. Yes, Celtic can be beaten but they won't be beaten often. If we move into a clear 2nd place we will be there to be shot down and other teams will up their game against us. Celtic have the quality and depth to cope with that, I'm afraid we don't. I am, however, confident that this could still be a very, very good season for us.

I think our Board will look at what Malpas has done here and not what his record was elsewhere. He will have learnt a lot in the last few years and I am sure he has the respect of the players and the backroom staff. I am sure he could do a good job. However, with the current position of the club and it's increasingly high profile, there will be an understable option of going for a more high profile manager. If so, where does that leave Malpas? It seems to me that whilst he could do a good job here as manager, his personality may be more suited to staying a bit out of the limelight as assistant manager. Assuming Butcher is away and Malpas does not go with him, then I would imagine Malpas will be wanting an assurance from the Board that either he will take over or the person who does so will do so on the condition that Malpas remains as assistant. One assumes that Butcher wants Malpas to join him at Hibs (perhaps not) but it may be that Hibs don't want him or Malpas does not want to go. Either way, despite having done a great job here, Malpas could be well and truly shafted in all of this. Personally I have a sneaking feeling that with the backing of the wider team at ICT, Mo could quietly go about his work and do a very good job. One Maurice Malpas, there's only one Maurice Malpas Cue Malpas announcing tomorrow morning that he's heading Leith way with Butcher.

Don't worry about it. I am reliably informed that IHE will be joining Butcher at Easter Road as analyst and advisor. Clearly Butcher will benefit from his sage words of wisdom, whilst for IHE it will mean not having to travel so far for home matches whilst Leith offers a night time social life more in keeping with his tastes than Inverness. It will suit us as well as the number of posts on this forum with the word "narcisist", or variations of it, will be reduced by at least 99%.

There's no doubt he's done a good job here, but equally his behaviour this last week has not been good. To be fair, there is clearly a lot we don't know about his reasons for wanting to go to Hibs and his feelings toward ICT and the Inverness area. He may well feel torn and he may well feel hurt by the hostile reaction he has received from the Inverness fans. What he needs to understand is that the reason for the fans reaction is that they wanted him to stay and are very disappointed at the manner of his likely departure. Should the deal fall through then he still has a contract here. For me he would have 2 options. Firstly, if he wants to go then he should resign. How can the players have any trust in him if it is clear he wants away? Secondly, if he wants to stay, then he should put pen to paper and sign a new contract, apologise unreservedly for his conduct this week and pledge real commitment to the club. I have been critical of him these last few days but were the deal to fall through then I for one would welcome him back provided he gave a strong and sincere commitment. The management team he has built around him works for this club and there is unfinished business. It would actually be good to put this all behind us and get on with that business. We may not be a big glamorous club but Butcher is lucky to have us. If he could just accept that then we could all kiss and make up, so to speak, and he could go on and achieve things he can be justly proud of. I think he's behaved very poorly this week but I for one would be prepared to forgive.

Rowan Vine is a decent player ..give him a decent manager ..Im not knocking any Inverness player which, Im surprised at your bitterness towards hibs though ..Ive been to Inverness many times & have had nothing but 100 % the best hospitality ..on this site though there seems to be a hell of a lot of hostility towards hibs ..why is that ..? Hostility towards Hibs? Don't think so. We're just enjoying our current superiority over you (and others) despite our very much smaller budget. If you want hostility then look no further than your own website and comments about your dear neighbours from the other side of the City.

It'll need to be somewhere special - it doesn't look as though it will something that will happen very often.

Me too. In fact I thought it was Butcher himself.