NICKNAMED AND SHAMED
Gardyne copping plenty of £5 fines for calling County gaffers ‘Ketts’ and ‘Fergie’
MICHAEL GARDYNE admits he’s getting hit in the pocket for calling Ross County’s co-managers by their nicknames.
But he reckons handing Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson the reins will pay off for the Staggies this season as they bid to bounce back from top-flight relegation.
The management team have set a £5 penalty for any player uttering their “Ketts” and “Fergie” nicknames.
Long-serving Gardyne has been the hardest hit having known the pair for years.
He can laugh it off though because he knows they have what it takes to lead his side back to the Premiership.
The season starts today at home to Elgin in the Betfred Cup and Gardyne insists spirits are high in the Dingwall dressing room.
Asked about the £5 fines he said: “We’ve already racked up a couple of hundred quid but it so easy to do.
“I was a team-mate of Ketts and the worst part is when they join in training. Asking for the ball it is so easy to shout ‘Ketts’ or ‘Fergie’.
“It is just good banter and those two have a laugh about it as well.
“The respect is already there from the lads. We know it is ‘gaffer’ or ‘gaffers’ – but it is hard to remember.
“We have a laugh and joke but everybody knows who they are. The way they went about past roles, in the youths and Under-20s, meant they already held the boys’ respect.
“But the biggest part is how they go about training every day, the quality of it and the way everything is organised.”
Co-management is rare in football but Gardyne reckons their strong bond will overcome any friction from conflicting ideas.
He said: “I can imagine Ketts and Fergie in the office having a couple of wee batters about player selection or whatever. I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall for that!
“But they get their point across easily to us and have obviously settled on it in the office beforehand.
“No player wants to experience relegation and thoughts turn to everyone else at the club. People might lose jobs.
“But the chairman has been brilliant. He put faith in Ketts and Fergie and the boys are right behind them.”
League Two Elgin have faced County three times in the League Cup, with the Dingwall side just edging the head to head. But the last meeting in 2011 saw Elgin win 2-1 in Dingwall.
Gardyne added: “It is never an easy game. They will come here believing they can win.”