big cherly

The season has just started. I’m confident the team will ‘find their game’ and start to turn the results round in the coming two matches. It may be a couple of 0-0 matches and unattractive, however we just have to realise and accept where and what we are as a club and start grinding out some no-loose results. That will settle the team which hopefully they can then build on to add a goal or two in the Sept games. bc

Yes indeed, a low threshold of enjoyment in my opinion; however everyone has the right to be wrong and choose and select where they want to be entertained and if ICT has 22 months of similar joy to look forward to maybe just some will be looking up the shinty schedule matches. It was here before the fitba and is the ancient sporting ancestry of the highlands.

Can’t be worse than crying at the the crap on show today!

Good, hit a nerve and a worthy repost. I will be succinct and concise as I can! Why, Well principally two reasons, 1) As long as there is no Supporters Trust link or representation to the Forum, then their fair game. The purpose of the ST in their headline webpage is ‘Representing the fans of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC’ - A bridge between the club and its supporters. – Then the forum is where I would expect a wider and more spread fan representation where sensible debate on the more serious matters relating to the clubs are aired and discussed.(#) The posting of alleged foul language by the management team is up there as an example. Right now, there is no way via the forum to understand whether the Supports Trust think this matter is of importance or whether they would take the matter up with the club’s representatives in a timely manner and seriousness that the club would address the ‘complaint’. Whether the club feel they have to do anything about it is part of my second point. # The case I hear is join the supporters trust. Well I disagree here in that any ICT fan should have a voice and platform to air serious alleged grievances such as the one above without having to join a club. Or indeed have to take the matter up on their own directly with the club and hope that some action is taken and a reply issued, ( their track record here on communication needs no further words). 2) Does the ST Board represent the full spectrum of the fans in the redress to their voting rights? I understand from the posters the Supporters Trust Board carries 10% voting rights and is second largest voting block with ICT. Are the fans views across the spectrum of the support reflected in their submission to the club? If the supporters trust only represent their members, (I’ll guess a 2 or 3 hundred number of mostly 50 plus aged members) is this truly representative of reflective enough. – The two main examples or issues for me is a) the poor to little incentives for increasing the younger fan base, and b) the two-year contact for the manager. On the latter there are many fans that did not agree with the decision to award him a two-year contract extension based on the performances and style of play for the past two seasons. Unless the decision to award BD the new contract as solely down to the CEO and Chairman I would consider the STB were signatories to this decision. – That’s Ok if this was the case, but it would be useful for the fans to know. So, concluding, – My having a pop at the supporter trust board isn’t an attract on any individual, (if it is taken as such then it’s my place here to correct that and apologise). My efforts and focus are prosecuting what I think is in the best future long term interests of the club I support. For me the Supporters Trust has to reach out to a wider and dare I say it a younger fan base and the Forum (not sure twitter or their equivalents are ‘solid’ enough), is the artery that a ST representative, (doesn’t need to be named), can comment on pertinent matters considered by the CTO high heid yins to support can be made. Anyway – I’ve had my say, I can move on!! bc

Maybe they see Dodds as a master football visionary with his hoofball and pedantic back 5 slow square passing strategy. It just we hicks in these northern climes can’t appreciate the finer points of this strategy and execution of the elan’. Well we can only pray and hope the Arabs look further north than Glasgow. We have enough Dodds apologists dusting of last February's excuses for this August. What’s Arabic for Billy Billy,,,, bc

Maybe the head of the Supporters Trust Board can submit it in an email to the SLO! - Oh I forgot, no one in the STB looks at the forum, (makes you wonder why their there), and the ICT suggestion box disappeared years ago! bc

Not forgetting the ‘Hack and Hope’ strategy to be deployed at the last 10 minutes of the game. That always catches out the opposition centre halfs and goalkeeper unaware!! bc

Well, let’s just think about who cares or will change their opinion on what is posted on this forum. # the CEO - no chance # Chairman - nope # board members with influence - mmm (based on the last 2 seasons)? # the supported trust board - you kidding! # the season ticket holders - some I suspect but have no clout (ie unlike the top 5 teams in Scotland ). So, we can rant all we like, but it doesn’t really count for anything. The forum is just an outlet to allow ICT fans to put down the views, and for the most it does that pretty well I believe! Just enjoy the footie - who knows, we might be pleasantly surprised! bc

This seasons budget has already been allocated / committed. You’re no mug so I’m sure you already know that! There are a couple of players Dodds is chasing but the limit on what he can pay for them is in this budget. (Yes that means average to suspect injury prone players that other championship teams won’t go near). I’m afraid that’s where we are given the past two seasons. (I suspect it would have been a lot leaner if not for the Queens Park cup boo boo)! It doesn’t make any sense in my view to push for a replacement of the manager on the back of two poor results in the early season (3rd level) competition. This really, for the club, would always be a period for getting the team structure, play pattern, strengths and weaknesses set out and amended for the real test (the league), where the manager & coaches will be judged. (Add to that where the CEO and certain board members look in a year or so). As I mentioned we don’t have the money to dump Dodds. It just will not happen (for now), get used to it! The test for Dodds is to try and get the team results. (I don’t mention or mean quality of play, as I suspect most fans accept, the style of play - structure is already in place. Their is no other plan B). A poor winter set of results may influence my opinion and make me look a bigger mug! bc

Don’t think that’s a question that should be raised right now. The guy has just been offered a 2 year contract. Irrespective whether we think that was right or wrong, the fact is it is in place. We can’t afford to pay him off, simple, so we just move on! Tonight’s result ends interest in this cup. We just hope Dodds and the team learn from the mistakes over the past two games and get it right for the league games ahead. We can’t enter into another winter like last year!! bc

Thank you OCG for your response as you understand things. I’m not a Supporter Trust member, just a simple supporter of the team. I’m still unclear what the Trust Board actually stand for in how a question like mine, (of relevant interest to us all I would hope), is taken up and addressed by the Trust Board. If as you say the TB has occasional meetings with the club officials, is there timetable for the these meetings or is it randomly held? I would be concerned if the club would consider withholding details like season ticket numbers sold, as it would (I suspect) be of interest to just about any season ticket holder or the fans in general. Why, well a number of reasons, Firstly, connection with the fans. The season ticket sales represent (for me at least), a sign of the general health of the club. Absence of such details weakens, I believe, the connection and bond between the club and fans, where as DD mentions, just about every other club is proud to promote and release there ST figures. Secondly, Anyone with any interest in the club know our average attendance is just over a couple of thousand. If their is financial sensitivity on the season tickets then given what I say above (other clubs release ST No’s), this may raise greater concern and focus from fans, vendors and potential investors that there is a risk the club is in a vulnerable position (yes, I take in the cup run). Releasing the ST numbers would dismiss this uncertainty. Lastly, it raises for me the question ‘what does supporters trust board actually stand for’. I don’t mean that disrespectfully, but I assume some of the Trust Board members look at the forum comments as well as taking in Supporters trust members emails. Like graffiti on a wall, some of the more salient and meaningful suggestions and comments (good and bad), that could help the club forward come from such sources. - The absence or lack of Supporters Trust Board interaction or feedback with the forum is a lost opportunity for me. Anyway, I personally feel the club has more to gain than loose by issuing the number of Season Tickets sold. Just my tuppence worth and final comment on the matter. common fan bc

I understood from recent posters Fraz, the Supporters Trust held 10% voting rights, and referring to Cattach 28th June, was insisting the trust board is held in a higher position and representation than the common fan. (ie, they would act on these fans behalf)! I stand to be corrected if I am wrong with the above, however in the event I am right, I consider my request for season ticket status was a simple and valid question the ST board would welcome and take to the club with a view of issuing a clear unambiguous answer! What is their purpose otherwise if they cannot or address with their common fans enquiries. Or is it a case that only certain questions can be accepted? Clarity would help me understand better! bc

Knowledge!

Hi, Can the trust board please confirm how many season tickets have been sold this new season to date, what is the club’s expected target. If not currently available, what date will it be available. Also obtain from the club the season ticket numbers for the last 10 years. Many thanks. bc

“Whats clear is the current club board appear to treat all fans the same, including the supporters trust. This has to change going forward.” The above bugged me since it was posted and I resisted commenting on it at the time as I didn’t want to deflect the main track of the issue. So after a period of time I came down on the side of ‘this is ‘ part of the problem’. - I’ll leave it with A Miller’s “we are all born equal, some are more equal than others”. bc

Understand where you’re coming from scotty in that you don’t care where the person comes from as long as they competent, ‘straight’ and professional in communicating to the respective bodies. I buy all that. Only thing is the level of distrust from a good number of the fans towards anything to do with what the board control (ie their SLO), will be met with some scepticism if a key issue in the fans eyes is not sanctioned. (Be it valid or not). I do feel a fans rep stands a better chance of mediation and progress fir both parties. just my tuppence worth. bc

Well done Douglas, for persevering when most of us just gave up. Be interesting to see if your stone in the pond gathers any momentum (wave like), time will tell. For me the recent posters has been what’s good about the fans (both positive and negative [depending on what side of the fence you sit]); so here’s to the start of the new season. Enjoy it !(all the ups and downs).

Hello Alan, I have taken time to digest what you say regarding true fans. I understand your point where you ‘support your team though thick and thin’, but stop and disagree at ‘No matter the circumstances’! - I have followed football as a fan boy and man going on over 60 plus years simply because it thrilled and excited more than any other sport! It extended beyond a simple sport to include and represent the community, people and town /area I lived in. For the most the people in control of the clubs I followed were from the town the club resided and were woven into the ethics and ‘sole’ of the supporters. In essence the club and team represented the supporters. In todays football society the connection between the club hierarchy [+team] and the support has been diluted as money overcame every aspect of the game to where the supporters connection has been reduced or diluted to ‘customers’, or to put it in more financial terms ‘cash cows’ via aka season tickets and sale of merchandise. What I have observed at ICT since we won the Scottish Cup has been a slow and somewhat painful decline both on and off the field. Excluding the Covid period and a fortunate cup run, the performances and direction over past two seasons with the team and CEO / Board had been alarming to watch and read! I feel the current club hierarchy do not have the same connection with the fans and community I mention above. I hate saying transient hierarchy but that’s where I am just now. This disconnect is most tangible in the almost bewildering and belittling regard of the fans worth and communication. So Alan, I have reached the point where I don’t want to continue with the current arrangement where I pay to receive more of the same ‘service’. As OCG eloquently put ‘it’s the only power we (fans) have’. To get the powers to pay some attention is to show that in their pocket, (Money again)! So to end my spiel, bring a true fan in my book depends on your interpretation on what you think is best for your team, and what you do to bring that into effect, (and loose). I respect your view but you don’t have a monopoly on what constitutes a fan. bc

Snap! Place it also a tip and adds to the disenfranchisement.

There is a valid argument to say B McKay’s best days are behind him and it’s time for the club to look beyond him. Avoiding for now the talk of what options / scenarios the club had in mind if McKay left (I’m sure Robbo has a list of players), it is an opportunity for Samuals or one of the other signed players to step and take up the role. Also push the apprenticeship players and roll the dice!

Indeed, the club’s PR dealing with Shane Sutherland, will I suspect, have registered in the minds of Mr Mckay and players potentially available. Look at how Queens Park CEO positioned and promoted her club at the weekend on where they see their club develop both on and off the field!

I respect your stance and challenge IHE, but it’s simply not for me. I’m past it in ways of busting a gut and spending energy on attempting to persuade the people in charge to recognise the clubs fans better (too many good people here have used the ‘head against a brick wall’ term). My experience is, it simply comes down to Money and willing and that in my view won’t be forthcoming willingly based on their past track record or attitude. It is a long haul campaign needed here and I couldn’t provide that. My compliments to those that can rise to the quest and implement positive change. Bc

Forgive my scepticism IHE but I have grown to be somewhat guarded about ‘clubs’, ‘trusts’ and ‘fraternity associations’ and whose interests they actually represent. Do the representatives selected (they are rarely votes in), truly act on the undiluted views of the fans, or is it a filter to present a set of guidelines their masters want them to work within! So whilst it’s not for me, I wish any new applicants well in maybe getting a better representation of the fans views across (as the trust’s image to date has in ways of communication between the fans-board somewhat compliant. Bc

Pile of people align with your views and frustration Douglas. It’s not went unnoticed how much you resisted publishing your views as you were at pains to not denigrate the club and make simple but practical, easily adoptable, suggestions that would go a long way to engage the fan base better. I sincerely hope your message doesn’t fall on deaf ears. Sometimes however the gap is too wide, time will tell. For me it’s leopards and spots. Need some new cats.

Thanks for the update, that helps me understand where things are on the matter. By the sound of it, the numbers of returns have proved how important the club mean to the fans and can be considered a success in undertaking it. It’s an artery that may demonstrate that the (core) fan base consider the recent communication channels (i include the supporters trust ) between the club hierarchy and core fans is deficient and needs reviewed. I’m sure there will be a pile of recommendations from the survey for the club to consider, (from the team, management, youth teams, contracts, ground, relationship between club / fans), from the unrealistic, worth considering and yes no-brainier. As ever it comes down to money, but there has to be a “will” beforehand. So good luck with the review and filtering of the survey returns. I realise the constraints with only two people working on the task, but there is a risk that its findings (report) is diminished if it is released long after the survey was undertaken. Ie mid season in December. (Maybe the club could put forward a admin person to help)? I also realise it’s Zip to do with me, but I always hesitate and question the merit in the club officials seeing the findings before the fans. I don’t know if the club has the power to influence what is finally published, however given the, (let’s call it strong) views of a lot of fans with the board/CEO’s past record, the survey final report may fall into a similar mindset by some fans if this is the case and hence loose it ultimate objective of better communication. I hope that outwith the simply offensive, all comments ( ones not selected for the final report) will be available to view somewhere I want to close by saying well done to those running the survey (and the two poor souls collating the findings). bc