Leaky Blinder

The saddest of news and my thoughts at this time are with his family, and with everyone close to and friends with Johndo over the years. For those who played football in Inverness "back in the day" everyone seemed to know everyone, particularly their peers across Inverness regardless of which side of the bridge you were from, through School football, Boys Brigade, Street League, Youth League and beyond. it's poignant to see the old photos presented as a tribute and to read all the memories.

Completely agree. An effective communication strategy isn't difficult but it does require a minimum of two working brain cells deployed simultaneously allied to a coherent strategy There are Highland league clubs putting our club to shame on the communication / fan / community engagement front.

See above ... currently hiding amongst the civilians

It was certainly an effective method of flushing out SS combatants hiding amongst civilians at the end of WW2. Not convinced it's quite the same scenario .. although anyone discovered with a "SG" tattoo on their (upper left inner) arm should be removed for interrogation and de indoctrination purposes ..

If only the club could be as helpful with their communications

If done en masse it could become the werther wave

Aye the orange ones ..

Where is the line drawn I wonder .. perhaps opening a Werther in a flamboyant manner ?

Thanks BC undoubtedly we all fall into one of the camps illustrated where we believe a particular course of action or individual /collective strategy will result in a more favourable ( or least worst) outcome. My current rationale is that in the absence of any sort of visible stance from the stay away support the board and outgoing ?? CE must believe they have won a watch and feel empowered to continue down their current path ( i.e. a complete lack of specifics when communicating to stakeholders, whether they be shareholders, supporters, media, or the wider community meaning we either take them on trust or we don't dependent on which group you fall into) confident there is now no grass roots dynamic left in in play, and who amongst us can currently state otherwise ! As Charles Bannerman articulated in an earlier post the media were expecting activity in the form of a protest and with the complete absence of anything resembling resistance the board can now act on the basis they have been vindicated in their current strategy. This is where past mistakes in strategy may be compounded as they have demonstrated a complete lack of competence thus far (based on all known information, but we do have to ask why do they not want to connect meaningfully with the fanbase and are delaying an overdue AGM announcement). The counter argument is they want to get a "deal" over the line but should there be prospective investors enjoying exclusivity ( everything is Chinese whispers), there is no transparency to shareholders and as other clubs have found to be the case, boards don't always choose the best long term outcome for the club but present a fate accompli. If I was a prospective investor the lack of spirit shown by the fanbase would be a major red flag. The wider latent support cannot be galvanised without a focal point via the media highlighting the fight for the soul of the club. It may be an impossible task but we should at least try or just be another group of supporters who let their club wither on the vine through poor governance and a lack of accountability structure being in place, whether formal or informal, assuming the people in charge of decision making always know best. We know this is not always the case.

Thanks CH I think your post captures the essence of the dilemma many face. I think it's a really key point that the club should recognise not all of us have a lot of spare money to throw around and we have to balance our personal budget before paying the wages of others in some sacrificial manner.

Thanks for the feedback Triple B, appreciate your input

Build it and they will come ...

Please consider completing the poll to help capture the current mind set of the forum statistically. My personal disclaimer is that I consider myself non conforming for reasons outlined elsewhere and I sincerely believe that doing nothing achieves exactly nothing. That said I fully respect the variety of opinion and this poll would enable clarity as to whether conformists are now in the majority. This is not intended to rabble rouse as the forum is a just a small data set, but aims to facilitate further discussion around organised protest should there be sufficient support in principle, and where possible involve the trust in any potential action or actions discussed, given their support in principle at the recent meeting. Thank you in advance and I hope the poll actually works !!

Eloquently put Jack. Perhaps, given the monastic like vow of silence from the board, we "non conformists" should hold our own silent vigil in a visible group on match days .. The conformists have set the bar high but I think we can out silent them. "Nothing comes from doing nothing"

The frustration is I want nothing more than to invest my hard earned cash into the club via a season ticket purchase, but to do so there has to be an acceptable level of genuine communication and transparency from the club to allow me to trust the governance process within the club going forward. No business man would invest in the club until they have completed their due diligence to ensure their investment is protected so this is my personal baseline for financial commitment this season I'm afraid. As you correctly say others may see things differently and what is non negotiable for me may be inconsequential for someone else.

Hazarding a guess that Gardiner forgot to put the order away

Is there anyone on gardening leave who could give those bushes a trim ?

My gran did send a strongly worded letter of complaint to the Courier when the drapers at the Hilton Shops closed

I'd contest questions around the treatment of players are closer to Fergusons remit than what insight he has to potential investors. The difference is the latter gives media a bigger headline despite his comments being "best guesses" with regards to a "new owner" by his own admission

This comment from Ferguson " if you don't want to be here don't come" swung my decision today not to attend with my daughter. I was going to pay game by game but this gaslighting approach towards fans they have ignored all close season I find unpalatable. No one understands the reality more than the fans. Ferguson couldn't even define owner of a football club as opposed to investor and we're supposed to hang off his every word. Noone expects him to be a financial guru but a modicum of research before he lets his belly rumble would go a long way to convince fans he ain't just winging it, which he clearly is. Like others I 100% agree Gardiner needs to be gone but Ferguson is part of the problem now not the solution. When his focus regarding the "new owner" is burning through cash he doesn't have nor in all likelihood will see before the transfer window ends ( I refuse to slam the window) Here's a thought .. if the club were properly engaged with the fans they could have requested anyone living within a drive by of Bonnyrigg to do a wee bit research for them at their pre sesson so they didn't go in "blind" Building a picture of their opponent needn't involve sitting in a stand with a club tie, pad & crayons looking all important. All the forward planning skills of Sunak on a wet day in London.

The pre match warm up at Station Park .. Bollan actively involved & Ferguson watching on as manager fair enough ... but what exactly is Kellachers role in this dream team he looks completely detached !

Ignore I just reread & noticed the important word "fixed" apologies

If there was another share issue would the ST not have to purchase an equivalent number of shares to maintain the status quo? Otherwise surely the % would be diluted !

Aye their striker (Barron?) had a lecture from the referee after flying into a challenge from behind late in the first half. He wasn't seeing much of the ball as our defence was assured first half so frustration looked to have set in. Much slicker pitch cut shorter than Grant St & a bit if rain all helped our passing we were much better first half compared to Saturday. Billy Mackay showed how effective he still is when he gets a chance in the box a really well constructed and well taken goal for 1-0. All the changes disrupted the second half but another good run out for the young team.

Savage looked secure at the back. Ferguson looked as slow as a week in the jail but a few nice touches outside the box. Looks the part with his ripped socks. All a bit pedestrian but the team got some minutes in their legs. One concern is a number of the youngsters did look lightweight for the level they're going into. Onwards to Station Park on Tuesday