Owen talks old club up
Owen Coyle last night tipped Ross County to bounce back into the Premiership at the first time of asking.
The former Staggies boss was axed with 10 games of their doomed season left after replacing Jim McIntyre in September.
But Coyle insists Stuart Ket t lewel l and Stev ie Ferguson – the coaching pair he was asked to groom to take over from him if he’d lasted his 18-month deal – are the right men to lead their revival.
Coyle said: “I was really disappointed County lost their Premiership place.
“Over the course of the season every one of us – all three of the management teams in charge and the groups of players – we didn’t do well enough. All of us have to take responsibility.
“We came in – myself and Sandy Stewart – and we won four games in the half a season we were in there.
“The other half of the season there were two games won, so I don’t think you can just say it was us.
“But of course there were things we could have done better.
“But I feel for the chairman Roy McGregor and I feel for the fans – it’s a community club and Roy backs it to the hilt. He backs his managers and I’m sure he will do that with Stuart and Fergie.
“I’m sure they will return the club to the top division at the first attempt.
“Fergie and especially Ketts were hands on. I brought him in as first team coach and it was always envisaged with the transition that he would step into that.
“That was accelerated and we’re disappointed with it.”
Coyle was criticised by County striker Michael Gardyne in the wake of the club’s relegation.
But the 51-year-old – who was playing an all-star game at old club Airdrie yesterday in aid of the local St Andrew’s Hospice – refused to hit back and said: “With all due respect, I don’t want to get involved in it.”
But the circumstances of Glenn Middleton’s exit from Norwich City and subsequent move to Rangers don’t allow for that.
Even now, the teenager is shocked at how he was treated by the Carrow Road club. In the aftermath, he cried his eyes out, not knowing where to turn next.
Middleton could easily gloss over it and focus on what has been a dream move to his boyhood heroes.
But to be successful at Ibrox, the winger wants to use the Canaries’ rejection as motivation as he tries to force his way into Steven Gerrard’s new-look side.
Middleton was so highly rated by Norwich that he was training with their first-team squad aged just 16.
A regular for Scotland at youth level, he was tipped as a star in the making for club and country.
But the arrival of German coach Daniel Farke at City, as well as new sporting director Stuart Webber, changed the landscape in terms of Middleton’s future prospects.
And he’ll never forget the moment in January when he was told his time in Norfolk was up.
He said: “I was the most shocked you could ever be in a situation when Norwich told me I could go. Not in an arrogant way at all.
“Just by how it came about. But now I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Because I’ve learnt that’s how brutal football can be. It’s set me up for the future and hopefully something like that never happens again.
“I was told certain things by Norwich. Then I was drawn into a meeting and told I wasn’t their cup of tea any more.
“Things had changed at the club. They didn’t fancy me and that’s football. At the time I was confused, as other people were.
“Other boys at the club couldn’t really understand what was going on.
“I thought I was going into that meeting for a general chat. But it didn’t work out the way I’d hoped.
“After the meeting I went home and cried a lot. I’m not ashamed to admit it.
“It was a horrible two or three months for me that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But I’m grateful for it happening now.
“Because it’ll stand me in good stead for my career.”
Middleton didn’t realise it at the time but he believes the writing was on the wall for him at Norwich well before they delivered the news.
But he’s convinced the whole experience will benefit him at Rangers.
The jolt it has given him means he’s now working even harder to make the grade at Ibrox.
The youngster, who is currently at the Toulon Tournament with Scotland’s Under-21 side, said: “The way it happened was weird. It wasn’t down to me. Other things back that up.
“I wasn’t playing then I was a forward playing at left-back.
“They brought in a boy from university football in Ireland and started playing him on the wing ahead of me.
“That’s just a few examples of how it wasn’t down to me. It’s a big lesson. I feel sorry for Norwich in terms of what they’re missing now.
“I know how hard I’ve been working since then. It’s given me the drive to move forward in my career.
“When it happened I hit a brick wall. I’d never experienced anything like it before.
“But it’s given me a new lease of life to work in the gym even harder, practise my shooting even more. I’m happy for it now.
“To get that experience young, albeit a negative one, will help me in the future. I’ve learnt that things aren’t straightforward.
“I know now I’m not going to reach the top just by turning up for training every day. Even when you’re doing well, you can still get a kick up the backside.
“No matter how well you think you’re doing, someone’s opinion is going to be different. But also someone else’s will be different to theirs.
“That’s where I was lucky that the people at Rangers took a different view.
“It’s been a hectic, crazy six months – but enjoyable at the same time. I couldn’t ask for much more, playing for the team I support.
“And hopeful ly I’m going to get opportunities at Rangers if I keep showing