Glover

This is the third iteration of the group stages; their effect on friendlies has been huge. It has largely taken impetus away from clubs and allowed more sponsorship and tv opportunities or value for money. As such, I see these friendlies as pre, pre season friendlies and the group stage as the pre season. Only difference is that it’s centrally organised and money can be made off of it.

July 14- 28 is the Betfred dates so that will be 8 consecutive games spaced 4 days apart. will be lots of players used to lighten the load - fitness and match sharpness, no injuries and some form a good outcome.

Storey is ten years younger - It’s not really the same.

I think that’s a fair summary Robert, it is a tough decision. Carl was given a 3 year contract at the start of this year under this board which will take him to 35 and 2020. It was pointed out at the time he is doing his coaching badges and does community work etc. I wouldn’t expect in 2019 then for the same to happen to Carl. You mentioned the board Robert and that was something in other posts too. Being negative about the club as a whole is definitely not a good thing. Being critical of the board, any board, in so far as adopting a questioning approach to hold them accountable is not so unusual. Others take this approach with players and perhaps it is a different style but questioning decisions shouldn’t be regarded as negative, nor should be the discussion of them. I am very pro-player and perhaps more skeptical about boards, and that extends outwith the microcosm of football. However, with a settled team, a forward / attacking team of Austin and MacKay assisted by Polworth and a lot of upheaval at 4 or 5 other clubs, I think we will be in playoff positions all season and a real shot at the title.

I have a feeling Austin will be one of the stand outs if things work out well. Dundee Utd and Partick are going through massive changes. It is the thought of RC and ICT being two runaway clubs vying for the automatic spot that would indeed make for a very intriguing year and if it is then I’d imagine Austin would be a big part of that.

Gary will be 34 in a couple of months. 35 at the end of his contract that he holds. I suppose a club might come in and offer him similar terms on a two-year deal (a one-year deal is moot, he already has that). How many 34-year-old defenders (who have been written off as too old and too slow by their own fans and are being asked to leave a Scottish Championship club) are getting such offers? At the end of last year he said, "...At my age you just want to be playing and enjoying being out on the park. Enjoy trying to pass on as much advice and experience to people as you can" Gary will retire or play in a much lower league at the end of this contract. ICT are trying to save on money by trying to get out of seeing him off into retirement. I do not agree that he is currently walking around going, "well that's fair". Perhaps it is devil take the hindmost at ICT now, and if it is, I find that to be distasteful. As a last word, I do see the merits of other posters' posts, absolutely. but there are two ways to see this, and this is one. (edit: shameful > distasteful)

It certainly made me cringe during Raven’s farewell speech at the stadium. He clearly felt let down and that experienced is a large part of why I have my own take on this. Well aware and accepting of different views - I don’t regard yours as missing the point, fake or cringeworthy at all; I am no fan of echo chambers.

As above, I don’t see how people can disassociate so quickly from players. I doubt Gary is feeling very chipper and either will any of the players who are close to him. It’s not a nice thing to be doing. That it is like water off a duck’s back for many i find a bit soulless. Him staying or going either now or at the end of the season will not make or break the finances and I find that getting so excited about the money saved and dismissing Gary’s situation, and the club’s word, as sentiment all a bit crass. Aware I’m in the minority here, certainly not bothered about that. Raven’s farewell speech after his last game brought home that sometimes you owe and stand by people who committed to the club. I honestly dont see how people can applaud and cheer and celebrate our captain for years and then quickly dismiss their fall from grace overnight as a good cash deal.

Kyle Hutton didn't sign because he was reluctant to move his family. Players and agents talk and clubs get a reputation. It will become even harder to attract players when the club keeps on trying to push players out. What options did Warren have when he was offered this contract? What did he turn down? So it was offered by a 'previous regime' - but by the same logic would we be equally indifferent if it was our manager or company owner that changed and then the new incumbent said we weren't wanted? Who is it we support at this club, the players or the board? Clubs take hits, for every Christie you may have a player for year longer - that's a gamble at all levels and all clubs. If Warren is what stands between the club and administration then that is a different matter, but it isn't as the board haven't said so. We can afford Warren, with such a young team and injuries he has a place, but the board clearly wants to rob Peter to pay Paul. Hutton would have moved had the deal been attractive enough, it wasn't. I don't deny the validity of the arguments above, and agree with the sentiments but surely concerns on the motives behind Warren and the road that this ethos will bring to the club as time goes on are worth airing.

Financially I'm sure it does make sense, that line will always be palatable because it plays on fear (of administration). Ethically? I'm afraid not - no point mulling over why players like Kyle Hutton and probably others find reason not to relocate when the culture is to try and get serving players under contract out early. I didn't like it much when Raven left under a cloud and I still don't like it now. If the club's ambition is to be a well-staffed office with a playing squad only a shade above promoted part time teams from League 1 then I think in that sense it has been a successful start. Partick have also released a truck load, including their captain, but only through their contracts being run down anyway.

With project brave, a large number of Team ICT players signed up, combined with shedding premier (or as near to) level players without equivalent replacements, and cost cutting year on year it is perhaps more realistic to aim for survival in the Championship and maintaining a full time team. If that's the MO, that's fine.

Agreed. The ethos of the club has shifted quite considerably. What was seen as mishandling of Shearer now actually seems to be the culture of the board to disregard service and identity.

P&J article on Gary Warren: Caley Thistle tell Captain Gary Warren he can leave the club Caley Thistle have asked club captain Gary Warren to leave the club as they look to slash their wage bill for a second season in the Championship

Shearer, Raven, OFW, Warren, - harsh decisions being made on coaching/players side. I guess that’s the price of a Chief Exec.

As CB said, now there is a Commercial Manager and a Chief Executive, from a marketing background, - especially destination marketing - so there should be an improvement on the match day experience. The season tickets and strips were handled quite well I thought (no major feathers ruffled - result) and we'll see how the sponsorship, advertising, community & business involvement, preseason friendlies, hospitality, food & beverage, communication, fan engagement, attendances, and all the other things involved go.

Hopefully there is a lot of names put forward from people in Inverness and surrounding. If an IV postcode is not a prerequisite, I would be very willing to put my name forward. Avoiding a paucity of people to stand is essential, otherwise all the talk will have been just that.

Interesting that the club have, or will soon have, registered two new players this early on. Very good that they are keen to register new players before the start of next season or indeed the end of this one, especially when finances were adjudged to be a sticking point. Two new registrations and maybe more to follow?

Ticket Touting/duplication! Credit card fraud! Catch me if you can 2

A mediator is a good idea Blair and if you have no vested interest either way, both membership reps/signatories and board reps may be amenable to a roundtable discussion.

No attempt to make the bar ICT oriented. One person struggling on the bar. Poor show and a bit of a mugging.

Unfortunately although my membership form was sent, recorded delivery, and arrived almost three weeks ago I have had no acknowledgement so I will try again in a couple of months time.

Liz’s response is direct but does offer much more in terms of ways to work together. I refer to an exchange between Liz and a poster on here (in the other pinned thread), snorbens-caley man on Aug 25th. Replying regards new members, Liz as Chair said: ‘once the renewal process is completed we will open up again to new members’ I am not a member and would like to be but have been waiting 6 months since that message for the membership to be sorted. Anyway, what’s done is done. I would like to become a member of CJT and be part of that 20 or more in attendance - at an EGM - can I? I’m still adhering to the principle for existing membership to be sorted. Also, I posted on here quite firmly and would stand for a vote to be on the board if that’s what is needed. As with others, not my angle or intention but I do agree with Liz about stepping up to the plate. A bit chicken and egg in a horse and cart however for me in this respect as new membership has been on a hiatus.

I think before any meeting between CJT and the chairman it is better to address the issues within CJT, firstly not automatically releasing names & positions of board members and the process that facilitated this. This is how far away CJT is currently (disregarding the fact that there has been no viable website for years) as an example, if this is really needed, to highlight the yawning gap in where we are: http://www.pompeytrust.com/our-board

As such Charles, CJT is of great importance to ICT fans all over who know how important 2018/2019 could be in terms of funds and the club’s decision making on that from the summer. Two months since we were told to wait, two months without any subsequent communication, three weeks been and gone for the EGM date. Could we please have a reply to what Supporters Direct have said? Have all the people that didn’t take up the offer now been personally contacted for membership renewal and have the CJT board met?

I think concrete action and initiative is to be applauded and encouraged, especially in this case. Sadly, the weeks after the New Year period are going to be rather busy work wise. Would there be any possibility of web links? We have a certain diaspora that I’m sure would like to make a contribution. In normal circumstances (the standard notice period) I’d have been able to make it over but not this time unfortunately.