Fraz

I might be interested if the cash went to youth development, specific stadium project and/or gave some supporter control. Rough estimate this season on what I've spent at ICT (not counting away games) between season tickets, food/drink, strips and merch, daughter's birthday party and mascot package must be over a grand. There's no way I'd put cash into the player budget to help pay for someone who likely works less hours a week than I do and who is better paid than I am.

You?

Good win today. Fairly boring, second half particularly but a well needed 3 points at home.

I certainly had a good time celebrating it last year. Nice to have something positive and any silverware is very welcome. Don't understand the moans.

Settle down mun.

Gregor, did you remember to send your card to Jordan today? ?

Is it a monthly direct debit or a one off yearly payment Gregor?

Chorley Chippendales?

What makes you think that?

If we beat County in the replay we'll likely be away at Dundee Utd on the 2nd of March. ?

When were these invites received?

Doubt it, I'm top banter me. Hopefully we'll meet one day and you'll find out how fun I am. ?

Think I'll have to give this one a miss. Seems very odd though. Typo aside. >Announced with only 3 weeks to go. No time to save up, people often already have plans. Hell, my daughter's 8th birthday party is on the 9th and invitations are out. >£120 a head, way above the affordable range of the average fan. Especially if you're going with the better half. >No mention of anything that actually makes it a special ICT occasion e.g. players from past 25 years on each table/former manager as a speaker etc. Just sounds like the average sportsman dinner affair. >Ryan Esson's testimonial dinner in May is half the price in the same hotel and has at least announced a well known footballing name as a speaker! I'm sure it'll be a nice night but it doesn't look like one designed for fans if I'm being honest. Looks like it was for the corporate/business crowd and it didn't sell enough so has (late in the day) gone out to the average joes.

What size is it?

Yogi wasn't given 'peanuts' though, that's simply not true. He was given a bigger budget than any previous manager. I don't think he was blameless for some of our issues upon his departure as he clearly engineered the situation but yes the board and Foran have to take the bulk of the blame there. Nobody I remember at the time wanted Foran as manager really. More of a wishful 'I like him and I hope he does well.'

Happier, hopeful times.

Hand out free beer and whisky before games at home. Problem solved. Or possibly made worse ?

I think it was put quite well by whoever it was that said to me "John Hughes is more clever than most people think but he's not quite as clever as he thinks he is."

Yeah it was. That's why I replied to it earlier in the thread.

Skip over it then champ, or perhaps furnish us with a list of topics which are acceptable for us to discuss in your presence oh fuhrer. ?

Yogi did a great job with Butcher's players no doubt. However Hughes was not sacked to make way for Foran, that's simply not true If that's what you believe. The board wanted initially to strongly keep him as he was refused permission to talk to Dundee Utd. Otherwise they would have let him go and made money from it, no? Of course if we had let him go then people would be complaining about that also. The issues stemmed from that point onward. Obviously he resented that, dispite being on a pretty good contract with us. He demanded more and more cash dispite having the largest budget we'd ever given a manager and his signings were **** poor. He publicly and repeatedly slated the board and clearly the relationship between them became untenable. If any employee repeatedly berates their employer in the press then there's only going to be one outcome. Hughes manuvered his own exit, this was clear for anyone to see, as I'm sure he knew he'd be well compensated and could then get his next gig. Which was of course a rousing success. The disastrous appointment of Foran (both the appointment itself and length of his contract) was the biggest mistake the board made in many years but that's got nothing to do with Hughes.

Multi quoting is a thing. Just sayin'.

The revisionist versions of how Hughes left the club are astounding.

I'm shocked to hear our normally noble and stoic mainstanders behaviour being so uncouth. I'm certain the chairman shall be issuing a statement condemning the rapscallions forthwith.

Well I took my 7 year old daughter and her pal yesterday and her thoughts were 'I don't think they were trying hard enough!'. Luckily she's very keen on football and even wants her birthday party to be a football one at the stadium. However if you are trying to keep a kid entertained or introducing them to games, yesterday in the cold it wouldn't be an easy task. Saddest thing is I see around me is even the most loyal stalwarts are becoming disillusioned and many are finding that attending is becoming a chore. I don't really see anyone going to games anymore with any kind of excitement or anticipation. Maybe some liquid refreshments help somewhat but that's not an option for me sadly plus it seems the bar at the stadium closes even earlier now.