Highland ITFC

Have seen that Brora & Huntly in the Highland League have both picked up on this & are promoting it to their fans? Any SPFL Div 2 sides doing it?

Heard that the PFA has tabled a proposal to it's members that it could propose to clubs on behalf of said members, that if the season is to continue through the summer / into early autumn, then clubs offer all players & staff that will be out of contract a 3-month (or however long required) extension on the basis of their current / existing terms. It will then be up to each player as to whether they choose to accept the extension. So seems that the PFA is taking the 'we're all in this together' approach, & looking to do right by both it's members & the clubs that employ them. Could all be academic of course if the vote goes the way of finishing the season now.

Great work being done in his community by Elgin manager Gavin Price & his local volunteers - https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/community-raises-15k-fund-free-21827581. Well done Gav & co!

You never know. Maybe without the history that surrounds ICT & accordingly informs a lot in terms of who will / won't go to watch them & generally support the club, & with rugby being a more 'wholesome' atmosphere for families, kids etc to go & watch, it could be a real 'local club makes good to the big time' story & people will buy into their development & go to watch in increasing numbers. Think they'll be aiming to attract a lot of new - as in not currently watching any live sport - supporters, & there's certainly plenty of those out there, so I guess that time will tell. Would certainly be embarrassing for ICT if the rugby was getting gates approaching or even better than their numbers!

Yes, ECFC & other clubs will be able to make 80% grant claims under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which applies to anybody on PAYE. As a business owner I spent much of yesterday going through the scheme with my accountant & payroll people to make sure that we understood it, & to determine how we could best utilise it in order to do the best for both our business & our employees going forward. For most clubs at Elgin's level, it's worth remembering that it won't be the majority of players that would be hardest hit by any wage cuts if the Clubs hadn't had this opportunity, being that football is generally a lower paid second job for most, but rather the Clubs' full-time staff who will mostly have their jobs at the Club as their only, or certainly main income. At least now they'll be able to be furloughed & get 80% of their usual income, as opposed to the 67% cut that had previously been tabled at Elgin for instance. And if the Club was still going to pay 33% of their wages, then they could actually still top up the other 20% & actually still save a few quid, & that way everybody still gets all their money, or the option of it at least. Up to individuals then, or a collective agreement if any Club's employees - staff & players - wish to 'put something back' into the Club to further help the ongoing viability of their employer.

If it does turn out to have any substance, then presumably Rangers & Celtic would be the two SPFL clubs looking to have their Colts teams in, but assuming an even split of existing SFL clubs & SHFL & SLFL clubs, then that couldn't work as there would be an imbalance in numbers. Think I've thought that through right?

Have just seen a crowd funder set up by the club, seeking to raise £25k. Understand that all staff are having wages cut by two-thirds aswell. Very worrying times for the club & all involved with it, & more widely for football as a whole, especially lower down the pyramid.

First time able to get to BB in a while, & have to say that some of last night's football, particularly in the first half when playing against the wind, was up there with the best that I've seen from Elgin. Fantastic to see the side looking to play out from the back as the first thought, & the whole back four looking comfortable on the ball. Macphee in particular was excellent, & Graham also very composed, & Bronsky no longer looking to shell long balls as his go-to. Rory looking better & better every time I see him in the middle of the park, & really making the side tick with the way that he's always showing for the ball. And that front / wide four of Shane, Kane, Connor & Daniel are always going to create opportunities with their pace & ability on the ball, as well as scaring the crap out of defenders in the way that they close down. If it wasn't for some sleepy defending early on, & Elgin not taking the chances that were being created, then the game would have been out of sight by half-time. Great start to the second period to make amends for that, & but for the clanger from McHale the game would have been all done then. Fair play to the lads - Macphee's delivery & Soapy's finish - for bailing him out & getting back in front so quickly. MoM for me was Macphee, & wouldn't be surprised to see him back on a permanent basis come the start of next season. Only one result coming on Saturday based on recent form one would imagine, but Elgin do still have that ability to surprise with a shocker at home. Hopefully not though, as confidence so high now, & Brechin got to be the opposite. And with Cowden likely to be turned over by Cove, there's potential for a bit of comfort in third place by close of play Saturday.

These are the sort of games that are must-win in the run in towards the play-offs. Win & you'd like to think that at least 4th place will be Elgin's to preserve, if not being more comfortable in getting to third & staying there, but lose & things could look very different. Looking forward to getting to a game at BB for the first time in a while. Fingers crossed!

Maybe get their parents to drive them to a neutral venue, like say Rothes, & can then have a three-way face off with Rothes' recently appeared Orange Army

Four results called correct there T&G. Beat me with three right. Ironically you didn't have faith in your own team to do the business or would have been a full house! Haven't checked all the predictions, so how'd others get on?

Annan 1 - 2 Cowdenbeath Cove 4 - 2 Brechin Edinburgh 3 - 1 Albion Elgin 2 - 1 Stirling Stenny 1 - 2 Queens Park

Very common scenario down in England where of course there's a lot more cricket played, & accordingly a lot of recreation grounds / parks are set up for football in the winter & cricket in the summer. There's even overlap in spring & autumn, so the two definitely aren't mutually exclusive. Just needs decent care taken of the football pitches / cricket outfield.

Rough headcount of 140 at Formartine-Huntly

Maybe I got a bit overexcited here!

Going to be bold here & go 1-3 Elgin win

Pretty poor on their behalf if that's the case

Where does he play across the back?

Looks like Mailer rather than Miller if searching Uni of Stirling's current squad, & if that's the case then he's a defender & their captain

One other thought on Saturday's game......is it a coincidence that Elgin played some of their best football of the season, & certainly achieved the best result of the season, when finally starting two out & out wide players in the wide positions?

Reckon a headcount of 120 at Strathspey-Brora yesterday

Now that's some statement of intent! Three wins on the bounce & performance of the season to beat the runaway league leaders. Standard is set now, so need to keep at or around that level to ensure securing at least fourth place. Other results pretty much all went Elgin's way aswell. Cracking Saturday!

Rough headcount of 160 at last night's Rothes-Keith Highland League Cup game

Think that Roddie was an act in haste & repent at leisure signing. He was on trial at Rothes last season & they didn't think him good enough to sign, yet somehow he pitches up at Elgin. Seen him play a couple of games for the U20s & not look anything that stood out, & so can see why he didn't get near the First Team. Think he went back on loan to Norway last time I saw something about him. Anyway, another three points picked up. Maybe this is the way to go, in terms of 'winning ugly' as seems to be the phrase being used, rather than playing lots of nice football & then giving away a late goal to give away 2 or 3 points. Would definitely take an ugly win over Cove next Saturday

Does seem odd, as I thought (from previous discussions on here about the loan system) that these days loans had to be transfer window to window, & if you do get recalled early then you can't play for your parent clubs' First Team until the window in which the loan was made has expired. So if that is correct, then Harper wouldn't be able to play for ICT's First Team (& they don't have a Reserves), & likewise Elgin can't recall the likes of Ballam or McDade from their current loans to fill the void. So is Spark due back already? Has there been an issue between the clubs re Harper, as both clubs' announcements said it was by 'mutual consent'? I guess a case of 'watch this space'?