Staggies appoint joint bosses after Coyle exit

Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson are ready for the challenge of keeping Ross County in the Premiership after being appointed as co-managers until the end of the season.

County, who are three points adrift at the foot of the table, were left searching for a new manager following Owen Coyle’s shock resignation on Thursday evening.

Staggies chairman Roy MacGregor immediately turned to under-20s manager Kettlewell and academy director Ferguson to oversee the remaining 10 matches of the season.

The pair, who both enjoyed successful playing spells with County, addressed County’s first team squad for the first time on Thursday night.

The Staggies’ home match against Partick Thistle today has been postponed due to the bad weather, leaving Kettlewell and Ferguson time to prepare the squad for their first match away to Kilmarnock next Saturday.

Kettlewell, who steered the under20s side to the Development League title last season, says the Staggies must now focus on the task at hand following Coyle’s departure.

Kettlewell said: “The chairman and manager had a conversation and obviously we’ve now seen what the end result was. Therefore we were both asked to take over the first team. It’s as simple as that.

“I don’t think anybody thrives on the situation. With the position we’re in, we have to make sure we try and keep Ross County in this division. That’s the priority – we know where we are at.

“I think it is important we stress, certainly through speaking to Owen and Sandy Stewart after their departure, they were nothing but supportive and complimentary of Steven and myself.

“I can’t speak highly enough of how they dealt with the scenario and the way they were with myself and Steven.”

Ferguson, who has had two previous stints as caretaker manager, insists the pair are not looking any further than the end of the season, with their sole task to prolong County’s top-flight status which they have not relinquished since winning promotion in 2012.

Ferguson said: “The two of us are absolutely fine with it and accept the challenge.

“We are obviously disappointed when managers move on but we both know the situation we are in and we will do our best for everyone involved.

“There are no grey areas – everybody knows exactly where we are.

“Everybody knows the group of players we have got but we are in a position we don’t want to be in.”