Alex MacLeod

Thanks for the offer Mantis. Would love to but going to the Albion to take the P out of some Hibee's

Have my corn flakes every day so that one can be ruled out :003: And I'm not changing my sig till it becomes apparent that the existing one no longer applies.

CHRISTIE SAY'S ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Christie says enough is enough ALASDAIR FRASER August 21 2007 Craig Brewster and John Robertson have been thrust into contention for the position of manager at Caley Thistle. The job became vacant when Charlie Christie turned his back on the job after Caley had experienced a poor start to the season. It is understood that Christie put Robertson's name forward as his favoured successor, while after Brewster's departure early last year, the club's board had emphatically ruled out turning the clock back in their appointments. advertisement However, with a different chairman, Alan Savage, having replaced David Sutherland at the helm, there now appears to be a change in policy. Graeme Bennett, the club's director of football, said nobody, including past managers, would be ruled out of the hunt for Caley's fifth manager in five years. "We're conscious of the transfer window closing," he said yesterday. "That's key. We won't set targets but the preference is for sooner, rather than later. I think we've got to look at the whole picture before making a choice. I wouldn't rule anybody out at this stage. "We've always had the strategy of going for a young manager. Do we change that? I don't know. We'll decide on Wednesday when we chat as a board and get a steer as to which route we want to go down. That may or may not take in some of our old managers. I'm open-minded." Brewster's impact at Inverness was impressive in his first managerial post before a miserable time at Dundee United. It is thought he has a release clause in his Aberdeen playing contract allowing him to take a managerial post. Robertson, now manager of Derry City, guided Caley Thistle into the SPL with a title and Bell's Cup double, but his career also turned sour at Hearts after leaving Inverness. Bennett claimed he was "shocked" by Christie's move, which was made final on Sunday morning. "This is not one of those supposed mutual consent' resignations, he said. "The first I knew was over the weekend when Charlie told me the stress of management was becoming far worse than he had expected. He felt that, in fairness to his wife and family, he needed to step down." The director of football added that a third successive league defeat to St Mirren was not the root cause of resignation. Rather, the suffocating pressures of trying to further the team he served with distinction in the town of his upbringing had simply become too much. "Charlie is part of the family here and has been a great part of the success we've had," said Bennett. "We would like to keep him here in some capacity and that is also his wish. As well as being our manager, Charlie is a close friend and has been for years. Charlie is Charlie - he beats himself up when we lose and takes it very hard. To be fair, he was the same as a player but just felt it had gone too far this time. "I admire his honesty. This time when I talked to him on Sunday morning I knew that there was no point in trying to talk him around. I just knew for sure he'd made up his mind. Even when he took the job, he had concerns and was honest about them at the time. "If you are not enjoying your work and by the nature of the job you are living it Saturday to Saturday and taking it home with you, it is going to get to you." Bennett, as a high-profile figure in his home city, has tasted similar. Like Christie, he finds it hard to go out for a quiet meal or drink in Inverness without harassment, whether it is mild football-related banter or something more aggressive. "Inverness is a very different place now compared to what it used to be," he said. "Charlie and I are Inverness boys and we've been mates for years. However, the intensity of it given the way expectations have risen so steeply makes it difficult to just enjoy a quiet pint. "Everywhere you go, it's football, football, football and you can't switch off. We shared the drive home from Paisley on Saturday night and he told me his thoughts. Charlie is an emotional guy and can say things in the heat of the moment. In January and then in March there were similar scenarios. "I asked him to sleep on it and then he came around to my house on the Sunday morning, but I just knew when I looked at him, it was different this time. This time it was for real whereas before it hadn't been as strong a feeling. "I'm disappointed because there was no pressure from us. We were happy with the job he was doing. His record is good - I'm clear on that - and finishing eighth after seventh the year before was a great achievement along with seven points from nine against Rangers." Christie's record in a little over 18 months in the job stands up well in comparison to predecessors Steve Paterson, Robertson and Brewster. Up to the end of last season, he had won 24 and drawn 17 of 63 games in charge before this season's defeats to Rangers, Motherwell and St Mirren.

The point is I now know I haven't gone senile overnight. That must be something worth discussing, :-*

Brew and Grassa are still very pally.

Brew may have been a United fan but I doubt whether he has any love for the grocer. And he still has his house in Inverness so I suppose he could come in at the drop of a hat. I do however, feel that its a backward step to bring anyone back for another term.

Perhaps what they are saying is, "why should I work my balls of to get a start on the pitch when someone can walk in on 4 times my salary and then expect me to perform 110% in order that he can shine and move on" To hazard a guess as to the answer there may be deemed to be a very savage thing.

Nor this year

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!! Its been confirmed. I'm not going doolally after all :021:

Johnboy, I dont believe either of the three you mention would have taken us anywhere further than CC did. This is the big league now and for at least seven of the teams in it survival will always be the first priority. Robertson took Pele's team to SPL. Brewester kept us there. The only one of the three who could claim to have taken us upward is Pele.

ICT for the DROP

Mr Smith, in my mind, has absolutely nothing to do with this situation. My cynical mind see's attempts to pull strings. i.e interference from the heavens.

If Brewster was to take the position I doubt very much whether he would register as a player. Newspapers and TV will list all the same old favourites as they do any time a vacancy arises. Personally I doubt if Pele would take the job. Robbo would cost us too much in compensation. If Donald Park was to stay in his present capacity then I'd maybe suggest his Fort William buddy alongside him......Duncan Shearer. However, if he could be persuaded I honestly believe Bobby Wilson could do the job.

How about bringing Bobby Wilson out of retirement with Barry as his No 2. :tic01: Yep stupid suggestion.......................but not half as stupid as some that have gone before me.

I just hope that those who added to CC's pressures with their comments on this site realise now that serious damage could have been done to this club. Think back to how long it took for previous managers to start getting results from the team they had to work with and wonder how far behind we could be before we get fluidity within the team. Those previous managers had the assistance of Charlie to guide them through the early stages of their employment. The next guy doesn't.

Charlie Christie brought stability and continuity to this club at the times when other managers chose to 'better' themselves elsewhere and contrary to what some people may think he and Donald Park were a success over the last 19 months. Personally I would have liked to have seen Charlie complete this season, at least, to show the doubters that he can build a successful team. Alas! thats not to be so I wish him and his family every success and happiness for the future. Charlie, you can leave with your head held high. roscoe23....grow up.

Just trying to put a little humour to a humourless situation matey.

That may be so oh Immortal one but I am the only one who seen the light thread.

Does it say 'Johndo's had a few vodies' perchance. :023:

First of all Charlie Christie is not employed as a manager. He is Head Coach and Donald Park is Assistant Head Coach. Between them they are responsible for puting the team on the park. Graham Bennett, as Director of Football, is the one who does the hiring and firing. And this may be where the problems are arising at the moment. A few questions to ponder: Is there conflict about who should be sold on to allow us to bring in others? Is there conflict about who CC wants to field and who he's told to field? Is there conflict between players and coaches? Is there conflict between the established, regular players who have had to battle to keep their positions and those who come straight into the team? Personally I wonder is there more to our problems than just the loss of a couple of players. I can understand the frustrations of fans but until we know the truth of the problems then we shouldn't resort to being hostile towards each others opinions.

It is a fact that now having completed my 50th year of life I am suffering from some form of senility. I could have sworn that a short time ago I read, and responded to, a thread about a resignation. IHE I desparately need your help and advice. I'm not ready to just give up and be nursed. We have cups to win, a league to win and a foray into europe to get through before my time ends.

Like you I'm still waiting KK

And I still believe we will.

We dont actually have a god given right to win any game in this league. Every team is going to fight for the spoils and its the best team for 90 mins each week who will win out. The wins will come. Trust me I'm a health and safety specialist and I predict we will be healthy and safe.