Fraz

Remember that Ferguson was supportive of our move to Kelty where we would be using... checks notes... a synthetic pitch 🤦‍♂️

Exactly. It's quite frankly a pathetic excuse. We're a full time professional team. I have seen us train on the astro at the rugby club. Whatever anyone's views are on synthetic pitches it shouldn't be a massive issue for professionals to adapt, particularly given virtually every pitch we will playing on in this league is synthetic. If Ferguson isn't implementing training to adapt and familiarise to it that's his blunder.

Sadly, if we had any kind of half competent board in place over the last few years it would have never come to this as it would have been picked up and he would have been fired long ago due to his gross incompetence. It was pretty clear after a year or two that Gardiner was not only utterly useless but was actively holding ICT back.

Ex-Caley Thistle chief executive Scot Gardiner doubles claim against club to £140,000 www.pressandjournal.co.uk Caley Thistle’s former chief executive Scot Gardiner has doubled his demand from the club, claiming he is owed £140,000. Club consultant Alan Savage warns that sum could soar further, making administration a real possibility as he seeks to find an investor for Inverness. Former ICT chairman Savage was drafted in last month by interim chairman Panos Thomas to “take charge of the struggling Highland club to put the team in a firm financial position”. The Orion Group chief has been paying immediate bills and has ploughed in more than £200,000 to ensure ICT remain operational with staff wages also covered. The threat of administration has not vanished, despite earlier hopes that key former shareholders turning loans into equity or writing off loans would stave off the fears. Inverness’ consultant and former chairman Alan Savage during Wednesday’s press conference. Image: Rob Casey/SNS. Loan money plea is hotly disputed Last Friday former Caley Jags CEO Gardiner, who left the club as a result of Savage’s arrival in August, sent sheriff officers to the Caledonian Stadium. Gardiner, who spent five years with Inverness, said he is owed £70,000 in loan repayments. Savage claims £50,000 relates to money loaned to Inverness Caley Thistle Concert Company Ltd with the remaining £20,000 loaned to the club. A three-week period has begun for ICT to respond to Gardiner’s loan claims. However, Gardiner has also now claimed he is owed wages for a 12-month notice period, increasing his overall claim to around £140,000, according to Savage. Gardiner resigned in early June of this year, but remained in place to work as the club sought investment opportunities. That ended with Savage’s arrival last month. ‘He’s putting the club on the brink’ Savage told The Press and Journal: “We’ve had a letter (from Scot Gardiner’s lawyers) and they’re now claiming he’s due (money for) a year’s notice period. “This is on the back of a contract he says (former chairman) Ross Morrison approved and he’s looking for a sum of the region of £140,000 plus I’d expect damages on top. “It seems the club have accepted his resignation. The Glasgow-based lawyer for Scot Gardiner says because the club accepted his resignation, it accepted a contract (with a 12-month notice period) exists between the club and him. Former Caley Thistle chairman Ross Morrison. Image: SNS. “What should have happened is (the resignation letter) should have been sent to a lawyer to find out what should be done about it. “I will still be responsible for the £70,000, but if the club adds a legal bill on, I think you’d be looking at £175,000. “That’s £175,000 for Scot Gardiner, who failed to deal with the paperwork which could have made the club part of the freeport, which would have made this club money. “In my eyes, he’s been incompetent, yet he’s putting this club on the brink of administration. He’s someone who failed on so many fronts at this club. “But we will fight this. Even if it happens, administration is not the end for Caley Thistle. It could be the beginning of the recovery. “I would look after the club through administration and post-administration.” Savage will spend the coming days speaking with his lawyers and plans to hold a press conference on Tuesday to further update supporters. Investment plans remain active Savage says the League One side, relegated from the Championship in May, must land investment of at least £1.6 million to get them into next season. Income from the controversial battery farm in the city’s Fairways depends on the goodwill of former directors David Cameron and Allan Munro and ex-club chairman Ross Morrison, who own the operating licence. Savage hopes investment through a battery farm agreement could land the club a lifeline £2m, while crowdfunding remains an option they are actively looking at. The club’s draft accounts show a loss for 2023-24 of £1.7 million. The loss for the year ended May 30, 2023 was £588,053. Gardiner has been contacted for comment.

Sounds like all the parasites are crawling out of the woodwork. Robbo has a brass neck considering we stuck by him through difficult times and even created a nothing, well-paid, BS job for him when he wasn't capable of being manager by his own admission. Even allowed him plenty time to work a second job while we had games on. Gardiner's gall has perhaps given an opportunity to really scrutinise his tenure and conduct which will hopefully come back around and bite him on the erse.

Gardiner and Morrison?

Looks like they are being revealed tomorrow. Black and gold? https://www.facebook.com/share/v/T68vb3VHi8qZNtkS/

Good to know, thanks.

My first home game back after renewing earlier this week. Wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Seemed to be making genuine efforts at moving the ball forward but we still dither and lose momentum in the final third ending up making too many passes, slowing it down and giving the opponents time to organise. Some absolutely shocking and quite frankly bizarre decisions from officials. I don't blame Ferguson for being irate and I don't see how he deserved 2 yellows. Ref trying to make a name for himself I assume. Beautiful day to be back, see friends I've missed and got a win. Happy days (aside from not getting Oasis tickets 🤣)

Indeed. Yvonne Crook was a disaster of a CEO also.

It's been at least a decade since that was really a 'family section' folks kids grew up and apparently people complained they didn't want to move seats so over time it bacame no different than any other general area. I've asked the club numerous times over that last few years about creating and having a clear 'singing/standing section' for the more boisterous and vocal fans. That way they have a clear space and others can avoid if that's not something they want near them. Recently they had been congregating at the front of Section E when then causes issues for those behind who are forced to stand up or move elsewhere. Of course in typical fashion the club never replied or did anything. Apart from I suppose the attempt in the West Stand, which in true Gardiner fashion failed without so much as a whimper or explanation.

They also state: "Anyone arriving at the stadium under the influence of alcohol, or any other substances, will not be admitted to the stadium and again may face arrest." Therefore anyone who's been at the pub before or in the stadium bar or Boardroom having a couple of drinks can expect to be refused entry/ejected and possibly arrested?

Been taking my girls to the north stand from when my eldest was 8 weeks, they're now 10 and 13. They've never once been frightened. No offence but it's a football game not the panto at Eden Court. We have one of the most laid back supports going.

Shop like a billionaire. Even though you aren't. Sounds like Gardiner.

Probably playing sweeper.

WTF? 🤷‍♂️

Here's hoping!

Anyone check the boot of Gardiner's car as he left?

For context if you're not familiar ( and well worth a watch if you haven't).

The only watertight contracts that the club seem to be capable of making are those that tie incompetent failures to us for years no matter how pathetic their performance is.

There's certainly not just one man to blame for the omnishambles that is ICT.

When you go to the circus you have to be able to laugh at the clowns.

Thank goodness we signed a defender and not an attacking player. #Duncball4Lief

No changes any time soon according to the prospective new boss. https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/ketan-makwana-says-no-changes-at-the-top-for-caley-thistle-u-357528/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Nothing I can think of. No project he's been involved with has been successful that I can recall and by virtually any metric things have deteriorated on and off the pitch over his tenure. Has anything improved since he arrived? Nothing except his business' bank balance and his ego. Of course, it's not only Gardiner's incompetence in the mix, others have contributed.