big cherly

Yep, Invention, ability, experience and game wise. Might not be as sharp as he was (Dunfermline seemed to be a wrong team (football-wise) for his game. But the short period he spent with us before leaving for DU left some good markers (couldn’t have been the manager or CEO), allowing Wotherspoon to weigh up a return. Expect the deal will allow him to spend most is the week at his home in the central belt. Simply delighted and looking forward to a player of this talent in our colours again! bc

Delighted this lad has signed on for another year. Might be the difference in achieving promotion position (direct or playoffs) this season. Best / most significant signing so far in my opinion. Still need a proper striker; not a kid! bc

Sorry Jock Broon.

Sad to see the Hamilton diehard fan pleading for the individuals/ pacts having a game of power-play (it’s ma baw), over the clubs future like a toy. It’s too close to the bone after what we (ICT) have experienced over the last 18 months. That said, it is another poignant example and precarious case for a lot of Scottish clubs that simply have been ‘hollowed out’ of fans, staff, facilities and money; and trying to exist on long past memories of town / area identities and what that once represented is not enough to keep the club afloat now. De industrialised to many towns has left them with dwindling population and reduced spare money. Throw in the ease for fans to now travel to watch the big city teams, well it’s a struggle for sure. I expect Craig Brown will come up with some agreement with the ‘other faction and individuals’ to enable Hamilton to stay at Douglas Park (or whatever chip shop now owns the ground name). Fact is, for me it’s just kicking the can down the road for 5 or six years. There is an inevitability IMHO more small teams will face Administration, merger or do a Gretna or Clydebank in the not too distant future. bc

Also a tacit warning to Cowie and insurance of minimum disruption if things don’t go to plan by Xmas this year. Cowie, (and by implication Robbo) has been told that getting back to the Premiership, directly or via playoffs, is expected next season. If results by Xmas don't show or keep that target a reality, Cowie will be kindly ‘booted’. This is where the Robbo insurance kicks into play. Min disruption, worked with and knows all the players strengths and how to get more out of them, aka results. Know’s the place, training facilities and expectations of uncle Roy (demonic) and the fans (fingers-crossed). The dumping of Tremarco and Cowie’s brother is more evidence, if it was ever needed, just how ruthless and clear minded good old Unc-Roy is when he deals out some doctrine tenets of his!! I have the feeling it won’t be lost on AS the level of comparative success Coonty has had with this doctrine! PS - Still hope to be playing Coonty season 26/27. bc

Good chance someone will come in with a few quid above our limit that makes it a moot point. There is a (strong in my mind), argument for Musa to consider what’s in the stable he knows. ICT will be in with a good chance of either winning promotion outright, or get into the playoffs. For this to happen, as Starscape puts well, Musa gets starting place as long as he is fit. It provides him a full season to demonstrate his goalkeeping credentials and showcase his potential for interested bigger clubs. With the full promotion case, he would be offered the chance of playing in the championship and certainly a marked increase in wages. If it’s playoffs (and fail), then Musa has the season under his belt and the further exposure of playoff games. Musa’s manager/agent was certainly of the view he would benefit with another season (at ICT) as the boy knows the management, players and area. A stable and contented place to play goes a long way, and I’m sure that’s not lost on both Musa and his manager. Anyway, I don’t see it as a lack of ambition, more his manager/agent trying to get the best (full package) he can for his client. All up in the air until Admin is settled as far as the club are concerned. By that time Musa may have signed for the Coonty!! bc

For me, the two most important positions in a team that can influence a match is the striker and the goalie. The Striker will always demand the top dollar. Goalies tend to be a lot further down the pecking order in way of wages. They can however accrue more points than the rest of the team players as was proved so effective last season where, whilst we couldn’t score in many games, Musa helped in no small measure getting the points needed to get above Dumbarton and Annan. I think the guy is a real talent and could be the difference in getting promotion next season. I know all the talk is players earn too much and we (the club), will stay within their new wage structure. I hope that means we pay at least the minimum wage for the hours the guys are contracted for (12, 16, 32 or whatever). Savage is no mug however. He knows talent when he sees it. He also knows the value of achieving promotion next season. Musa’s manager will do (rightly so), what he can to get the best deal for the player. If Musa is content with ICT and would consider staying for another season (to gain more exposure), then I hope AS comes up with a deal that could be acceptable to both parties. If the boy does move on then I wish him every success in the future. Like it if he finds a team in Scotland bc

Pity, would loved to have the Elgin game through at Borough Briggs. Can’t remember the last time I was at a game there. Got to be 30 years plus. No matter, looking forward to the match already. Brings back big-match memories at Telford St for me. bc

Yeah, ditto! I thought it would be great having derbies every year and visiting Dingwall for over most of the seasons. (To be fair we had some great ones at the beginning). Over time the novelty wore off and the large crowds dwindled down. Being in separate leagues (by both teams) just continued that detachment for me. (I have always been a ICT fan but did at the beginning pop over to Dingwall when ICT were ‘away’). My thinking those years back was ICT would become the dominant team and attract players as we consolidated our place in the top league and grew our fan base to around the 4-5 thousand. It’s clear for a number of well known reasons after reaching our pinnacle of the Scottish Cup and Top league run it’s been a steady but clear drop down the leagues (and status). With County being relegated, I like some other posters take little satisfaction with the Highlands (wish it was us), not being represented in the top league. I have a feeling RC will find it tough getting back up to the top league next season. Uncle Roy has let it be known the money will be cut accordingly. I also have the feeling he will begin to think he may want to reduce his involvement (£££ & time) more. The realisation for me is the ability of either club to progress and succeed is directly linked to the number of fans it can pull through the turnstiles. In my view there are not enough (fans) for both highland clubs to obtain a firm standing in the top league. Ideally in my view a comparison could be be Kilmarnock or Dundee. (I know both these teams experience relegation, but both teams are ‘established’ and recognised ‘top teams’). So, while I look forward to derbies returning in the season 26/27, I feel both highland teams are locked competing for the same fans. As a consequence each other is held back by their highland cousins. just my tuppence worth. bc

Yes agreed, I was impressed by the fitness and physicality of Livi. Fast, strong and not short of ability. Their players were definitely up for it and not willing to accept or drop their heads when 0-2 down. I can’t imagine or think of many teams is Scotland that would be able to turn it round scoring four goals. Their third goal was simply superb. Full credit to Martindale. - Unfashionable Ex-Con has never shy’ed from being brutally honest about his team or his own performance or opinion when loosing or winning. Doesn’t fit the tabloid image or ingratiate himself with the pundits. ‘Plastic pitch and Mickey Mouse support’. Just waiting to hear these calls from the press / pundits wailing about there right to play with the big boys. bc

Yeah, More like friendlies for me. Might pop along if a team or player comes up that I might like to see again. Other than that TBH I’m less interested. bc

Maybe the incentive for Ardrie was avoiding a winter’s A9 journey stiffened the resolve! bc

Palace deserved their win in my opinion. Physically they out muscled City pretty much across the park. Stuck to their game plan and broke at speed. Well crafted and executed goal. Carried a bit of luck when it was needed. If nothing else it proves how the ‘little’ guy can win over a (much richer) opponent. Cause for celebration for me. Nice also to see a team from the unfashionable part of town get a little limelight! bc

Well, the counter to that is would we, (or more precisely the to be decide new owners) be any different if ICT were in the top league and found that the local youth academy, trained and reared players, don’t reach the level required you go and recruit elsewhere. RC have used many Scottish players (and managers) over the past few years. Just so happens they can get cheaper and better players elsewhere! I’m sure old Roy would have been delighted to have any youth players in the first team. My point is Uncle Roy is careful with his money and ruthless enough to get the best deal he can to keep his team in the top league. Whilst financing the whole operation, as said by Charles, (so long as he is around), it is done with precision and efficiency. The prime objective I understand from AS is to run a far more competent and cost effective club operation once finally out of Administration. If winning promotion from League One (and bringing in much needed more revenue), requires bringing in players from say Kelty or further afield will they reject that route if no highland players are in the team? PS how much I wished I was donating to a ICTFC under 13’s at Tesco on Sat. bc

They were there at the door threshold and couldn’t pass without noticing the RC colours and kids. Why donate - just habit. Do it for all kids. Cheerleaders trip to Miami, Local schools, Balloan boys. Umpteen other buckets. Can’t take it with me. bc

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 tops also evident on large girths! Just saying!! bc

Yeah, his real playing days are over. I expect he is signed-on as a player as a fall back or last ditch for games where emergency calls. His experience will be valuable in some games when called on. More a holding position I expect than relying on him as the team’s main goal threat. He will be of use I’m sure as the season rolls on. bc

Bavdige’s dad was a rotten speller!!

Yeah exactly, Feel Airdrie will be too strong for Cove. Didn’t see anything from Annan the season just finished that East Fife will think they’re not there for the taking. Like also to see Dick Campbell yelling his head-off at our stadium. Not enough football guys like Dick left in the game for me, so that’s my reason. Bound to be Annan noo! bc

Cove and East Fife my take. bc

Simple supply and demand. The demand is and remains the wealthy owners/directors/fans that cannot be weaned off of their ‘kick’ of trying to sustain their club operations on breadline margins. The fact that many, (bulk) of the clubs in Scotland teeter on the edge of survival year in year out on what you rightly say is insufficient fans (the prime factor) continues to surprise and bewilder me. Two clubs (from black and white telly days) Third Lanark and Clydebank have faded into the amateur and junior leagues. Others in the past years through relegation - Berwick, East Stirlingshire, Brechin, Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath and Gretna are examples and casualties of dwindling resources. The harsh reality is few, if any of these clubs will ever see a return to Division 4 because they have next to no fans and hence can’t realistically run a viable football operation. So back to supply and demand. As long as wealthy owners / directors (for whatever reason), aka Uncle-Roy, Morrison etc retain the desire to plough money into keeping and watching ‘their’ football teams playing the demand will exist. Despite endless past cases in Scotland where it ultimately comes crashing down leaving those clubs in desperate danger of survival. ‘Cut the cloth to …. ‘ bc

It’s a market value industry. Put aside we have too many (mickey mouse) clubs in the Scottish top leagues with hardly enough fans to pay for a match ball, how much do you consider a professional full time footballer in league 1 should be paid. (Minimum wage; lower)? Serious question. bc

Yep, and with Coonty and ICT geographically fighting for a relatively fixed number of football fans, the task is even tougher. So do we just accept our lot and do ZIP. bc

I understand the point you make Charles regarding Coonty-UncRoy and players wages. It seems unfair and skewed on ‘normal’ smaller clubs operating on modest means. The fact is however these exist and I can’t see the powers to be changing them to divert more revenue generated towards a more balance spread in lower league clubs. (Rangers - Celtic - Sugar daddies). I am pleased however that some posters are beginning to bring or open the discussion / topic of how the club /ST can think differently and running the club profitably - looking to increase the support base. So my line about not ignoring what the Coonty-UncRoy isn’t a hit at AS or the club (oors), it’s about being open minded!! Being positive, we are eventually out of Admin, I consider it is an opportunity (with less baggage) to look openly and innovatively at new ideas as well as the standard income models. Attracting more fans is a key one for me (short and long term). No easy solution but we avoid this task at our peril. I know it was done in the past and more recently (I think) at the end of this seasons games, so allowing one or two local primary school class kids in for nothing seems a no brainer. (sure someone has good reasons why this doesn’t work?). Better to put up an idea to be shot down than keep shtum and do nothing. More please. Tuppenceworth. bc

Agree with your sentiments about 16-25 ST. In fact reading other posts I wasn’t aware Coonty offer dirt cheap season tickets for OAP, (Suppose Uncle Roy can absorb the costs). The point is not lost however in that this incentive will bring in more fans, (good chance OAP brings along nephew now and again); pie and bov income, more atmosphere (sweetie wrap rustling)…. You get my point. - I know there is a break even point for uncle Roy in this practice, however I hope AS is not too aloof to consider similar schemes. In regards Young team bouncing in the pub pre Montrose match; Yeah they’re the core team, but we have to look at increasing that tenfold in the Snecky pubs at home games. Look forward to hearing /seeing what the club come out with once we get out of Administration. bc