Satan

Tremendous to see the squad shaping up nicely at such an early stage - almost unheard of in these parts.

A full squad pre-season might see us getting a couple of good results in the Cup games.

20 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Should be good at this level, but if he’s to be the “marquee signing” I’ll be disappointed!

That's more like a small tent signing.

23 hours ago, CaleyD said:

Biggest team effort the club will ever have witnessed....on the park, off field staff, and fans.

...until this season.

On the downside, they are in a very strong position to attract championship quality players...who hasn't accepted our contract offers yet?

3 hours ago, big cherly said:

Just donated this morning to the Ross County under 13’s at Inches Tesco. Half a dozen boys and girls with swinging buckets kitted out in RC strips supported by 4 adults and a kid on a bike doing a sponsor cycle sideline. 
Just another one of old uncle Roy’s well oiled machine publicity and coin generating initiatives (on our own patch), that we seem somehow beyond our club. 
Noticed plenty of adult celtic and rangers top also evident on large girths!

Just saying!!

bc

Why did you feel the need to donate to 'them' ?

Surely easier to plead poverty and walk by?

I've heard the 22nd May date has been pushed back to June...any confirmation??

Apart from being well bankrolled for the past decade or two, the County system had decent preparation for the time ultimately when the kid was told they're not going to make it, they used to have education programmes in place so when the County starlets failed to break through ( highly likely) then the transition path to highland league was already there.

Not sure what we had/have in place but I know of a lot of unhappy endings in regards to players in the system for ten years just getting shown the door. And this wasnt a recent thing, this was in the 'glory' years under Sutherland and Fraser.

In reality the County system is more of a community engagement vehicle, as they buy in all their players so the chances are less than slim for the youths.

We, on the other hand have a more realistic pathway below Premier level so should and have had more success than them. Being skint all the time contributes to this as well, of course.

8 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

If we’d won our recent home game v Annan we’d be safe now with 2 games to spare.

Ifs and buts have provided a defining narrative to our season for the last 3 or 4 years. We must change this.

Talks about a lack of strikers, plays Mckay on the halfway line, benches Brooks and puts Bray out on loan.

Then begins signing centre backs.

Tops it off with signing a player no one else would touch - his son.

Total balloon. 

4 hours ago, CaleyD said:

Does the stock transfer form contain any caveats stating that if Alan Savage doesn't get the required number of shares, and as a result pulls his offer, that the transfer will not be executed?

Yes, you may keep the certificate of ownership of shares in a liquidated club.

It's going to be a very different squad again next year, regardless of who we keep and who we add to it, in whatever division.

I suppose I'll just be happy the club will be there.

3 hours ago, big cherly said:

Congratulations to AS. He is now driving the bus ICT for a while. I look forward to see the details of how he will structure the non football piece of the club. Interesting that it appears one of the previous potential buyers retains an interest in possible involvement going forward. 
I am pleased that a non born and bred highlander now holds the reins. Can’t do any worse than the previous incumbents. Wouldn’t be surprised to see some deals struck with past individuals that got us into the mire reappear at the club. 
Expect to see us playing Championship football at the UHI campus within 5 years with a 20 year rental agreement in a more realistic sized ground. 
Wishing AS every success. He saved the club singlehandedly and deserves the chance to take it forward. Now the hard part - delivering expectations!
bc 

 

Thing is, most of the future development will already be sketched out.

Alan Savage is usually two steps ahead of the rest, no reason to think its any different now.

Interestingly,  on the news coverage tonight the reporter at the stadium also stated that one of the previous four or five interested parties was now looking at possibly coming on board with the new regime.

We shall see.

4 minutes ago, Yngwie said:

Yep, confirmed as preferred bidder. Now he has to get the debts written off and get control of the shares.

As good as done.

Hopefully this thread will be too.

9 minutes ago, KennySim93 said:

Kelty are somehow getting battered 4-0 by Dumbarton.  What's going on there?  Bodes well for next week or do we fear a reaction?

Kelty have been poor for long enough, getting hammered at home might provoke a reaction next week...especially as we'll be expecting great things.

Interesting to see how, as the game goes deeper and its still 2-0 if our game management improves. 

In control of things right now, need to maintain that.

20 minutes ago, bishbashbosh said:

4 regular starters off. Giving this one up, saving legs for next game.

Probably needs brannan off also, already booked and still giving fouls away. Time to calm down.

regroup for next week.

At this rate we'll be saving legs for the playoffs.

Next week away to Cove while Annan host Queens...

13 minutes ago, big cherly said:

Everyone to their own Charles. The emphasis is in the ‘if’ for me.
I understand and accept you’re an ardent believer and cheerleader for AS  drumming up support. No problems with that! 

I want to see competition for the right to own and take the club forward. Not a coronation! I truly believe that is in the best interest of the club.

bc 
 

Well before AS got the ball rolling in the last week there wasnt any offers at all. Where were the competitive offers then?

Part of his deal involves purchase of the sub lease for the land, which I doubt anyone else who accessed the data room would bother with.

But we'll see who, if anyone comes out of the woodwork now the dirty work has been done.

Think our purple patch lasted about 25 minutes, been under the pump since then. Do we continue with 10 men, in the vain hope of equalising or maybe protecting our goal difference?

Well, who'd have thought this would happen...

10 minutes ago, big cherly said:

I for one was pleased BDO were not present. Maybe some progress can be made now. BDO have more than made a healthy return for their overseeing the Administration to date, so maybe they feel things can move forward quicker.
bc

I was thinking with their exorbitant fees, they might have got this addressed at an earlier point in the proceedings,  rather than wait until we are washing our dirty linen in public (again) and an ex-chairman does it for them.

I mean they have been 'running' the club have they not?

1 hour ago, hislopsoffsideagain said:

Managing to get all those folk around the same table without any blood being spilled is an achievement in itself.

Getting all the bigwigs together at the same table,  revolutionary concept!!

Why wasn't this done last year?

(Did BDO not think of this??)

Bit of a reality check all round, our defensive line didn't cover themselves in glory for the calamitous defending ( not defending?) which led to the corner and again for the goal.

Everything that followed was fairly pedestrian stuff giving the Annan team plenty time to pack the box whenever we were trying to break through. Plenty saves from their keeper, but I wouldn't say he was particularly over extended - simple stuff really.

The ref wasn't of a decent standard at all, not much worse than Tuesdays but we won that didn't we.

Well done Annan.

Pick it up next week.  Hopefully Macleod is back.

Although I agree that Longstaff has shown improvement this year I felt that last night with Macleod in midfield we had a much better balance, with play going down both flanks regularly, as well as freeing up Mackinnon to push further forward more often.

As the debate continues as to when and how to integrate our younger players and we get closer to a safe league position then its surely beneficial to increase game time for those that are good enough as this is more crucial to their development than availability and quality of shower facilities , toilets and training pitches.

We'll need to have a better indication of their capabilities come next season when our loanees dissappear and other established first teamers move on, otherwise we will be in the same position with 'inexperienced' players with potential that require development.

Kellacher has balanced the team well so far, but expectations will be higher next year, and to win the league a good start will be vital so squad building and player assessment over the summer must be spot on.