Investment

[Ronaldo]

Its season ticket renewal for me in the morning too

[IBM]

13 minutes ago, Ronaldo said:

Its season ticket renewal for me in the morning too

And me 

[CaleyCanary]

I’m a happy bunny tonight  - sure there’s still a bumpy road ahead but I’m confident that Alan Savage will get this right. We wish you all the very best in the coming negotiations to give our club back the self respect that’s been destroyed and a club we can be proud of once again.

Mr Savage, we owe you a heartfelt thanks for getting rid of that ridiculous Walter Mitty character and the abomination that was Gardiner. Next on the agenda is to get rid of Duncan Donut as soon as you can manage it so that we can sort things out on the park as well as off it.

[STFU]

Tough road ahead still but it feels like we're at least pointed at the road and not into the middle of the wilderness.

We're going to need someone with experience of day to day operations to help get some of the basics back in place and deal with the bau stuff on and off the park while Savage sorts out the big issues.

I had already decided to return on a game by game basis but willing to take a punt and support this move by committing to a season ticket again.  At least that way I can express my dissatisfaction with Ferguson's nonsense at him directly even if it is from the safety of the north stand.

[Robert]

It’s great to see the positive reaction to the news confirmed today.

Credit to Alan Savage for stepping in but also to all who attended the alleged meeting on Thursday that CB advised us of: collectively they look to have got this result.

But this is only the start and there’s still a big challenge ahead before the club is financially stable, and an even bigger one to restore our reputation, both locally and in the wider football world.

Ketan was a fantasist and would have strung us along and probably been the final nail in the coffin. I’m not going to dignify Gardiner by saying anything: others have done that very eloquently.

I also think we need to give Ferguson a bit of a chance. I’m not a fan of his tactics and formation, but we can’t afford to part with him. He’s been dealt cards that are very different to the promises he’d have been given by Gardiner and Morrison (don’t forget his part in our demise) but we need to get behind the team fully.

Saturday will hopefully see a large, positive crowd who will help the players get our first league win. 

[TheNorthStander]

15 minutes ago, Robert said:

I also think we need to give Ferguson a bit of a chance. I’m not a fan of his tactics and formation, but we can’t afford to part with him. He’s been dealt cards that are very different to the promises he’d have been given by Gardiner and Morrison (don’t forget his part in our demise) but we need to get behind the team.

Not for me - primarily results on the pitch are paramount and his tactics cure insomnia. I can almost semi understand playing that way when we were in the Championship trying to stop the rot but in League 1 as a full time side playing this way is laughable.

I agree however that realistically we can’t afford to part with him but if the opportunity were to rise I would bite your hand off to send him back to Merseyside.

His comments also a few weeks back about not understanding fans frustrations relating to boycotting summed up as well how out of touch he is with the fanbase and wider City.

 

[CaleyTennis85]

This is the best news to come out of the club in a long time imho, it was imperative that Scot Gardiner went as he's been a DISASTER from start to finish! I fully trust Alan Savage to get this right and find suitable investment for us and, going by one of the local paper reports, things are looking positive on that too .

I truly hope that Alan can regain the trust od the local community as he promises but that certainly won't be easy!

I'm also saying that next to go needs to be Duncan Ferguson and his assistant but that may not be a decision for now so it's imperative that he's giving some funds to strengthen the club. One thing that confuses me is that "the club have been given a list of places I am keen on (or words to that affect lol) so I've left it in their hands", who was he referring to there, was it this Ketan bloke or Panos who was interim chairman at the time of that quote (just before Saturday) and now in the hands of Alan or are signings not likely now and more likely in January .

I am going to finish by saying that I am really confident of having a successful club again, on and off the field!!

[+DoofersDad]

4 hours ago, ictchris said:

They should replace the entire board - they all signed off on the Kelty move, they all signed off on the Makwana takeover, they all signed off on a massive deal for Ferguson, they all signed off on continuing to employ Gardiner, they have all stood there as the club withers while we try and pull off strange property deals to make a quick buck.

 

This.

Whilst we all know Gardiner was the person with the ideas and the recommendations which would have destroyed the club had he stayed, it was the Board which made the decisions.  Without the Board meekly agreeing to Gardiner's recommendations, none of them could have been acted upon.

The Board operate on the standard system of collective accountability, so that whilst individuals may not agree with every decision the Board makes, they are expected to support all decisions publicly.  I think everyone can understand and accept that Boards have to operate on that basis and therefore will accept that not every Director has been supportive of every poor decision the Board has made.

Some Directors might be unhappy about several decisions and be very uncomfortable about being associated with those decisions.  The question then is, at what point do they stand up and say they can no longer support the decisions the Board is taking and resign?  An argument against resigning is that their involvement on the Board has been to successfully argue against certain recommendations and also to have submitted positive ideas which have been taken forward.  They might argue that their resignation would result in a lot more bad decisions being made and therefore staying on will help to limit the damage.

But we have gone way beyond that now.  The Board has made decision after decision that has been hugely damaging to the club and they supported a CEO who has been almost universally disliked and who treated people in a totally unacceptable manner.  He should have been dismissed within months of his arrival and the case for his dismissal grew stronger with every month that passed.  I simply fail to see why any of the Board (with the possible exception of the more recently appointed Scott Young) can justify remaining on the Board after their complicity in all that has happened in recent years.

If any of them think they are fit to be a Director of our football club, I challenge them to come to a public meeting of supporters and to justify their support of all the decisions which have done so much financial and reputational damage to the club.  I challenge them to do the same at a shareholders meeting and to put their status as a Director to the vote.  If they are not prepared to do that, they should resign forthwith.

 

[Caley Mad In Berks]

Just come back from a couple of weeks away.  Delighted with the news that Gardner has gone and that the take over by Seventy 7 (or whatever they were called) is now a non starter.  Very happy that Savage has the best interests of ICT at heart, and that he will genuinely try hard to get us stable again.

Onwards and upwards

[RiG]

8 hours ago, Robert said:

I also think we need to give Ferguson a bit of a chance. I’m not a fan of his tactics and formation, but we can’t afford to part with him. He’s been dealt cards that are very different to the promises he’d have been given by Gardiner and Morrison (don’t forget his part in our demise) but we need to get behind the team fully.

Ferguson is a large part of the reason we are in this mess. From his dull as dishwater style of football, his awful signings, allowing better players to leave, freezing out others who were miles better than the dross he continued to select, seeing us relegated to his cannot be bothered to be here attitude and so on.

He deserves to be emptied and sent off down the road so he can promote his Everton book without wasting our time.

Edited August 14 by RiG

[CELTIC1CALEY3]

Just now, RiG said:

Ferguson is a large part of the reason we are in this mess. From his dull as dishwater style of football, his awful signings, allowing better players to leave, freezing out others who were miles better than the dross he continued to select, seeing us relegated to his cannot be bothered to be here attitude and so on.

He deserves to be emptied and sent off down the road so he can promote his Everton book without wasting our time.

You forgot to mention his enormous ego, his lack of knowledge of Scottish football .....it will be interesting to see if AS has had a quiet word with him to encourage him to reflect on his position.  

 

[+arbeem]

8 hours ago, TheNorthStander said:

Not for me - primarily results on the pitch are paramount and his tactics cure insomnia. I can almost semi understand playing that way when we were in the Championship trying to stop the rot but in League 1 as a full time side playing this way is laughable.

I agree however that realistically we can’t afford to part with him but if the opportunity were to rise I would bite your hand off to send him back to Merseyside.

His comments also a few weeks back about not understanding fans frustrations relating to boycotting summed up as well how out of touch he is with the fanbase and wider City.

 

What if Alan Savage's review could create a new role, Director of Football type thing, and make the manager report into that structurally? That way we don't have to pay the exit fee for DF but someone has the authority to influence his tactics directly and crucially DF has to listen. I know we can't afford another senior salary but maybe someone with the club at heart can do it either for a short term or for a nominal fee. This could either lead to a change of style or to DF feeling so unhappy in the role that he leaves.

[CaleyCiuin]

9 hours ago, Robert said:

It’s great to see the positive reaction to the news confirmed today.

Credit to Alan Savage for stepping in but also to all who attended the alleged meeting on Thursday that CB advised us of: collectively they look to have got this result.

But this is only the start and there’s still a big challenge ahead before the club is financially stable, and an even bigger one to restore our reputation, both locally and in the wider football world.

Ketan was a fantasist and would have strung us along and probably been the final nail in the coffin. I’m not going to dignify Gardiner by saying anything: others have done that very eloquently.

I also think we need to give Ferguson a bit of a chance. I’m not a fan of his tactics and formation, but we can’t afford to part with him. He’s been dealt cards that are very different to the promises he’d have been given by Gardiner and Morrison (don’t forget his part in our demise) but we need to get behind the team fully.

Saturday will hopefully see a large, positive crowd who will help the players get our first league win. 

Ferguson had his chance last season. 30 league games and 4 playoff games. He got us relegated. After two games this season we sit ninth. We continue on a downward spiral. We may win the odd game here and there, but he has proven himself to be not the man to lead us to success. 

Edited August 14 by CaleyCiuin

[ClickbaitProponent]

Well, what fantastic news! I am relieved for two reasons - 1) We have got our club back 2) My continued protests on social media asking if "Gardiner has left yet?" are thankfully finished.

I WILL BE BUYING A SEASON TICKET TODAY AND I THINK I WILL SPLASH OUT ON SOME MERCH TOO!

I picked up on the word "Forensic" in the statement. I wonder if that is a hint about some of the financial things that have gone on - maybe a few irregularities or anomalies? I did wonder why Gardiner seemed desperate to hang on, and indeed seemed to be trying to engineer a deal involving his continued tenure. Part of me wonders if he has things to hide and now, that he can't control what is happening, if those little secrets will be found out "forensically". I really do hope they find something!

[big cherly]

15 hours ago, Bridge_Ender said:

Brilliant news that the absolute nonsense of Seventy7 / Makwana has been kicked into touch. It’s mind boggling how it got to the stage it did.

Also very positive that Gardiner has gone.

Definitely a sense of ‘the grown ups have entered the room’ with this news.

It doesn’t look like Savage/Orion will be taking control of the club. But they will be assisting in getting it on the right footing and getting new long term partners onboard. That seems to be the remit of the marketing agency mentioned. 

The green shoots of recovery are there. But there is a long way to go to get ICT back to a stable footing.

It looks like the first steps have been taken though  

We need Alan Savage to keep managing his company and not get swamped by ICTFC. It’s been by far the most successful business operation over the piece in Inverness. I’ve known him (at a distance) for over 40 years and he’s someone I respect and admire for what he’s done, but like to retain that distance.

Having said that, let’s not quibble here. AS was the only prominent person with hard money to raise his head above the parapet and publicly question the Board since Morrison jumped boat. He saved the youth structure from folding (C Christie deserves a big mention here), called out Gardener for what he is/was (a repeated failed businessman), and finally had the ‘balls’ and courage to put aside any grudges and approach probable lifelong business and personal adversaries and strike a deal that would form a group with the money and experience to see though and kick out that charlatan Kahwana. 

Paraphrasing what someone else says mentioned earlier, businessmen are on the whole not nice people and mostly look at ‘what’s in it for them’ (that’s how the best succeed). 

I for one will be probably forever grateful for AS saving ICTFC. What form or shape in the future I don’t know, but I feel a lot better it’s people that work and live their lives here that for the next few years are in control!!

Digging out my ICT colours from the bottom of my cellar!
 

bc

Edited August 14 by big cherly

[+DoofersDad]

I note the club has yet to post its statement on its own website.  The "Courier" has it as follows.

 

 “After months of uncertainty surrounding the future of Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club, the Board of Directors have appointed local businessman Alan Savage to take charge of the struggling Highland Club to put the team in a firm financial position.

“Working alongside the Club’s Board of Directors, Savage has taken the initiative to oversee the organisational restructure of the club as they seek to remedy their financial issues, with chief executive Officer Scot Gardiner leaving his role with immediate effect.

“The club have also suspended negotiations with Seventy7 Ventures, who had been seeking to acquire a majority shareholding, with Savage beginning immediate work carrying out an internal forensic review of the club’s financial position to establish plans for the club’s future and setting the team into a viable position for new ownership.

“Savage and the Board are now looking to rejuvenate the connection between Inverness Caley Thistle and the community which will be integral to the long-term future of the club and are seeking support from local businesses to address the immediate financial shortfall until further long-term investment can be secured.

“The club are now working with Scottish sports marketing agency GRM Marketing to engage with a number of investment leads and commercially drive the club forward.

“Inverness Caley Thistle is hopeful that the community will once again rally around the team and come together to support the new foundations being established.”

 

The "Courier" is reporting the statement as saying Savage has been appointed for a period of 3 to 6 months, but what they have quoted gives no indication of a time-scale.  It would be good to see clarity on this.

What is clear is that those accountable for making this club a laughing stock remain firmly in charge.  These are the people who stood by Gardiner when it was clear to everybody else that he was the root cause of most of our problems.  These are the people who would have packed us off to Fife.  These are the people who were taken in by Makwana's nonsense and much else before.  These people are being led by Panos Thomas, a retired Orthopaedic Surgeon who allegedly told club legend Aaron Doran to rehab his ACL injury.  He was certainly party to the club's shameful decision not to pay for the operation that Aaron needed.

Obviously it is brilliant news that Gardiner has gone and the Makwana nonsense is off the table.  However, the Board can hope all it likes that local businesses and the wider community will rally round, but they should reflect that, given their appalling recent record, people would be far more likely to rally round if the "new foundations" being referred to started with a new Board in place.  

 

[ictchris]

On 7/26/2024 at 2:22 PM, ictchris said:

I'll call it now - these guys won't take over.  They won't be able to prove funds.

If they do manage to take over, we'll be in administration and probably out of existence in a few months.

[big cherly]

1 hour ago, DoofersDad said:

but they should reflect that, given their appalling recent record, people would be far more likely to rally round if the "new foundations" being referred to started with a new Board in place.  

Well said DD, 

The Board are culpable here and played along willingly as you say, for far too long with Gardener’s antics and for the past weeks with dear old Ketan’s ‘fools gold’.

There is more than a whiff of resentment in the statement with ‘Savage this and Savage that’, as though a few of them (Panos et al), maybe disgruntled the promise of Ketan gold is now off the table.
In the murky world of football club boardrooms there will be always be infighting on who drives the agenda and direction of the club. For too long it’s been taken down the wrong road and change is now essential. A clear out is needed but deals will inevitably be done. 
Just hope whoever ever takes over the reins (P Thomas and his cohorts are too stained to survive too long) will see through what’s needed to be done.

bc 

Edited August 14 by big cherly

[+snorbens_caleyman]

28 minutes ago, DoofersDad said:

The "Courier" is reporting the statement as saying Savage has been appointed for a period of 3 to 6 months, but what they have quoted gives no indication of a time-scale.  It would be good to see clarity on this.

I am sure that they don't know.  The agreement is probably that Savage will help out until the club is on a firmer footing, with 3 to 6 months being the estimate for this.

30 minutes ago, DoofersDad said:

 ... people would be far more likely to rally round if the "new foundations" being referred to started with a new Board in place. 

I agree, but it looks to me as though they are staying on.  The statement "Working alongside the Club’s Board of Directors, Savage has taken the initiative ..." is poorly written.  Yes, it's in the past tense, so could very well refer to whatever has happened over the past few days, resulting in Savage's appointment.  However, it might be a badly written statement trying to say that Savage will work alongside the Board over the next few months.

I suspect that getting rid of the Board will not be his highest priority - although I don't know the man or his usual way of working.

But I also remember that Panos is "Interim Chairman".

The fat lady is not nearly ready to sing yet!

[ymip]

What a relief! Credible adults have re-entered the building and yesterday, for me anyway, represents a truly monumental day in the club's history.

The immediate ejection of used snake oil salesman Gardiner and Michael Knighton cosplay fantasist Makwana's blockchain bullsh1t being hoofed into touch are enormously positive statements of intent and I'm delighted to see a man with the club's best interests at heart steerring the club forward in these challenging times.

With a bit of luck Mr Savage's next port of call will be the Manager and Assistant Manager's office. These two have been an unmitigated disaster, a ridiculous drain on resources and a stark reminder that clueless CEOs should not be making calls on football related matters.

The current board are surely forever tainted by their unwavering faith in half baked schemes that a 5 year old child could see were doomed to fail. Their complete failure to see through Makwana or execute even a modicum of due diligence bring their capabilities as directors into serious question. One hopes that yesterday's press release will be the last we'll hear of the knee surgeon.

I will be renewing our season tickets on Saturday and hope that this is the start of a positive new era for our club. 

The war may not quite be over but I'd say that the rebels have a good lead going into injury time. 

Onwards and Upwards.

 

 

 

[Charles Bannerman]

“Seventy7 Ventures who HAD been seeking….”

Note there one of the key words from yesterday’s club statement - HAD… hallmark of a completed action in the past as opposed to “has” which would have implied that Makwana’s efforts were ongoing. Enter Monty Python’s Parrot, and thank goodness for that.

The potential consequences of Makwana running the show were just too horrible to contemplate, and how on earth the Board managed unanimously to be taken in by a guy who inspired spontaneous scepticism and ridicule in everybody else from the moment the club announced his involvement remains a mystery.

But now, this fantasist can return to his “phygital” world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, the launch of the UAE branch of Seventy7 from the QE2 in Dubai and what will presumably become his seventh attempt to control a football club. Just not ours.

Good riddance to Ketan Makwana… and to Scot Gardiner - now another mercifully completed action in ICT’s past - who was in office across the most poisonous period in the 30 year history of this club. And yes, I could make a case for that including the dark days of the merger because even at that point, I never observed anyone within Inverness Caledonian Thistle who was as universally disliked…. despised even….as our recently departed CEO.

So now that Makwana and Gardiner are history…. let’s look to building the future.

Edited August 14 by Charles Bannerman

[bishbashbosh]

Happy days on the horizon.

From the statement ……… The club have also suspended negotiations with Seventy7 Ventures, who had been seeking to acquire a majority shareholding.

a quick google of “ suspended” gives ……..

The Suspended status means that the contract is temporarily 'suspended' and can be reactivated in the future.

Hope that doesn’t happen and it’s only legal speak.

[+DoofersDad]

4 minutes ago, bishbashbosh said:

Happy days on the horizon.

From the statement ……… The club have also suspended negotiations with Seventy7 Ventures, who had been seeking to acquire a majority shareholding.

a quick google of “ suspended” gives ……..

The Suspended status means that the contract is temporarily 'suspended' and can be reactivated in the future.

Hope that doesn’t happen and it’s only legal speak.

Interesting point.  Well spotted.  "Ended" or "terminated" would more appropriate and natural wording if the Board had decided they would definitely not be continuing discussions with Makwana.  

[STFU]

I think we need to manage our excitement and expectations a little. Savage won't know exactly what the situation is until he's completed his audit and it's not only the financials that are a total mess.

He might look at it all and realise that the cost of turning things around is too great for anyone to take on without having to go the administration route or whatever.

There may be no money for further signings or worse we have to let one or two go before the window closes.

As I said before I am willing to support his efforts by purchasing a season ticket but I still fear we may be in a situation where a further step or two backwards will happen before we can move forward again.

[Bridge_Ender]

2 hours ago, ClickbaitProponent said:

I did wonder why Gardiner seemed desperate to hang on, and indeed seemed to be trying to engineer a deal involving his continued tenure. Part of me wonders if he has things to hide and now, that he can't control what is happening, if those little secrets will be found out "forensically". I really do hope they find something!

I suspect his main motivation would be the awareness that his football related career would effectively be over unless he could make things work at ICT.

If he was questionable pre-ICT he’ll surely be absolutely toxic to any club now.