Yngwie

And you can't even wipe your *rse with the digital version.

Daily Record article: "They (ICT) are aware former boss John Robertson is keen to get back into management and ex-Caley Thistle star Paul Sheerin has impressed at Arbroath, while Paul Hartley is making waves at Alloa. Ex-Inverness manager Charlie Christie is also interested and Elgin City’s Ross Jack is another who has been tipped to succeed Butcher at some point." Translation: We really haven't got a clue but we still had another paragraph to fill.

Name them.

How exactly can "things only get better" for us? Second in the league and still in both cups. The only way it could get better is to be top of the league and still in both cups, but I don't think many would consider that to be likely. A more realistic statement is that things can only get worse, that's the sad truth! Enjoy it while we can.

Not crazy, just in denial

He has spoken to them. And after hearing what they had to say, he's agreed to progress to the next stage. I agree that its not a completely foregone conclusion that he will accept though, as it doesn't look like Barnsley can provide a manager with the resources to have a realistic chance of avoiding relegation or bouncing back up. The money will be tempting though. Make it through to next Christmas before being sacked with a healthy pay off and he'll have just about earned more than he would at ICT for the rest of his working life. That's the worst case scenario. If he actually pulls off a survival miracle, the sky's the limit for him.

Given that he's going to meet them, do you now accept that he's at least considering it?

He will certainly consider it, but who is really good enough for the Championship? I would say A Shinnie is most definitely worth a crack at that level. OTJ and Draper might do OK in the right roles. If he's shopping on a shoestring he'd certainly get some bargains from ICT, but first and foremost he needs Championship quality if he is going to keep them up, or bounce back next year. He will have a wage budget that allows him to pay about 3 times what our guys get, so he can fish in a bigger pond than ours.

Yorkshire Post says Terry is meeting Barnsley today. "Barnsley managing director Don Rowing said: “‘I have spoken to Terry since speaking to the Inverness chairman and he has intimated his willingness to come to the meeting. I think he was pleased with what he heard when he did speak to me. But I think he needs to meet with my fellow directors and the owner to see if he likes what he sees and hears. If he does, then I’m sure we can get moving."

I think the Iceland connection was a spell coaching at Kevlavik. Basically it looks like their manager Gudjor Thordarson had taken Marsella wherever he went, including Barnsley, Notts Co and Crewe!

ICT's goalkeeping coach and scout. And an unsung hero who finally deserves his own thread? It has been mentioned by a few people on here that it is actually Steve, and not Terry, who trawls the English lower leagues and non-leagues to discover gems like the current crop. I remember back in the summer there were fans on here unhappy that we were signing players from the likes of Newport, but bloody hell, who would you rather have in central defence, Warren or Munro? Twice the player at half the cost. That's what we need to punch above our weight like we are doing just now. Then there's Draper and Raven. And presumably he had a big say in signing Regeuro too. It speaks volumes that for our latest signing target, Danny Devine, Butcher has admittedly never seen him play but trusts the reports he's had. I was wondering what Marsella's background is but couldn't find a decent profile anywhere so I pieced together a few snippets from Google. A Huddersfield lad, he was a YTS keeper with Halifax. At some stage he somehow ended up having a long spell as keeper for Elgin in the HL. He then moved in being a goalkeeping coach, which included doing work for the SFA for many years, seemingly a community coaching role in the north-east of Scotland. Round about 10 years ago he was doing a lot of GK coaching in England, often part-time and possibly on a freelance basis, for the likes of Worksop, Barnsley, Grimsby and Notts Co. At Worksop he doubled up as Commercial Manager. He presumably had his first involvement with Butcher when they were at Brentford at the same time - Marsella was Groundmsan as well as GK coach! By 2009 he was at Crewe, where bizarrely his resignation was announced 2 weeks after he joined - but days later, he was back in place. In 2010 he joined up with Terry at ICT, and since then I don't think we can have any complaints at all about the standard of goalkeeping. His scouting talent and large network of contacts is a real bonus. Whatever happens with Terry (and Mo) it would seem important to us that Marsella stays.

If you look at our results and performances over the last 2 years starting from Christmas 2010, we were actually pretty garbage for all of it except the last 3 months, which have been incredible. The rest of it was relegation form and a type of football that drove our fans away in unprecedented numbers. So : 1) You can see why Terry would be tempted to cash in whilst his stock is high and before the bubble (possibly) bursts 2) Maybe he wouldn't be such a big loss after all. The reason we are doing so well now is because of the players Marsella has found for us, not because of any tactical genius at the helm. Just trying to soften the blow!

I was looking into the background of our head scout/GK coach Steve Marsella yesterday, and conincidentally he used to be a goalkeeping coach at Barnsley. I'd imagine Terry will have been on the phone to him for some more info on his prospective employer.

I see what you mean with regard to the topic title, but the poll question is: Do you think Terry Butcher will still be ICT manager at the end of January?

Simple question just to see what people think Terry will do. I haven't allowed posts on this topic, so as to prevent multiple discussions emerging on Terry's future.

At least that's a team more likely to be in the Championship next season than Barnsley are.

Except the Highlands?

Ipswich to Barnsley is about a 3 hour drive. Too far for a daily commute obviously, but close enough to allow Terry to at least spend a bit more time enjoying his new house.

One article I read said he was at the house he recently bought in Ipswich.

I admire your faith and I hope you are right. But I think enough hours have lapsed for Terry to have politely declined by now if it were such an easy decision.

Awkward position for Barnsley, having already had 1 very public knockback they don't want the embarrasment of another, and then to be looking at the next candidate on the list with everyone knowing he is only 3rd choice at best. They will be trying very hard to get their man.

Doesn't quite work like that, its not like when you or I leave a job and walk out with some stationery supplies. Barnsley are in the process of selling their top striker to Bolton so I think the reporters are doing a 2+2 thing.

ICT press release simply confirming that they have given Barnsley permission to talk to Terry. http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/757-press-statement

Is it too early to start talking about potential replacements?

From BBC link above: "Caley Thistle are currently second in the SPL, a position that would see them reach the Champions League qualifying stage if they maintain it to the end of the season. The Twerton Park side have lost just three games all season in the league, one fewer than league leaders Celtic." Twerton Park is Bath City FFS!