Hark halts his time in the game
Stu: Staggies switch creates a Liverpool-style bootroom
FORMER Kilmarnock and Dundee midfielder Gary Harkins has announced his retirement from the game at the age of 35.
Harkins joined Stenhousemuir in January on a short-term deal after leaving Partick for a second time but only managed three appearances for the Warriors before the coronavirus pandemic halted football.
Harkins’ greatest achievement came with Killie when he was part of the team that beat Celtic in the 2012 League Cup Final. On Twitter, he said: “Having played for 19 years now, it’s time for me to call it a day. Thanks to the fans.”
BY MICHAEL GANNON AND SCOTT BURNS STUART KETTLEWELL insists splitting up with Steven Ferguson is not a dugout divorce but the start of a new Liverpoolstyle Staggies bootroom. Ross County revealed the co-managers are parting, with Ferguson moving upstairs to become chief executive and Kettlewell going it alone as boss. County hero Richard Brittain will move up from the academy to become assistant gaffer while Don Cowie is hanging up the boots to take a coaching role. All four men in the key roles are steeped in Staggies history.
Kettlewell said: “We believe we have this Liverpool bootroom environment, and the chairman has been fantastic in allowing us to develop as individuals and people within the football club. “We have had just about the full range of roles at the club between us all. “That’s testament to the chairman’s vision in what he wants to do with the club, in trusting people that they can develop. “It’s now on to myself with a couple of guys at the club, to empower them in the roles they have got. “I’m sure they will support me along the way and make sure we deliver on the pitch.” Roy MacGregor revealed he has finally achieved a 25-year dream by putting a County culture in place. The chairman proudly said: “I now have Stuart who played for the club for eight years, Fergie who has been here for most of the journey, Richard Brittain a former club captain and Don Cowie who was in my academy when it started. “I have got everyone here who is part of a Ross County culture now. It has taken 25 years to develop and get there because football was never professional in this part of the world.
“Every club has its own culture and identity and I wanted this from the beginning.
“Now I am delighted we are finally in a position to do it.”
Kettlewell is thrilled about the new-look set up but admits breaking up is never easy.
He said: “It sounds like a marriage breaking up!
“I couldn’t have picked a better person to have alongside me these past few years.
“I’m one of those guys who calls it like it is and he’s supported me through a lot of things, not just in football.
“There are a number of aspects I will miss, football knowledge is a big thing.
“I’ve added a lot to my own toolbox off the back of Steven.
“In terms of what I won’t miss, I don’t know. I’m not saying anything now he’s chief executive. There’s nothing that strikes me, he’s not even untidy in the office!
“Generally these relationships have been split up in the past through failure.
“We are taking up new roles on the back of success.
“It has worked well for us, going into the job we had a clear understanding of how each other worked. When to speak, when not to speak, who was coming in as good cop and who was coming in as bad cop. “I spoke about the Liverpool bootroom set up. But if you look at their set-up with Gerard Houllier and Roy Evans, it was two completely different people and two contrasting styles. “Our personalities matched. I am very proud of what has happened over the last two and a half years but it’s time to draw a veil over it and move on.” Ferguson is up for swapping the boots for the boardroom after several years in Dingwall as player, coach and co-manager. He said: “There are loads I am going to miss but I am accepting of the new challenge that’s ahead of me.” Kettlewell insisted Cowie is ready for life in the dugout after a glittering 20-year career on the pitch that saw him win the FA Cup with Wigan, as well as starring at Cardiff and Hearts. The County boss said: “It was a tough decision for him to hang up the boots. It’s a brilliant story for football in this area. “He came from being a nine-year-old at this club, and the journey he has been on as a player to now is great.”
STUART KETTLEWELL