Gallagher plans welcome party Captain keen to use trip to Highlands as icebreaker
MOTHERWELL captain Declan Gallagher aims to use their first away trip to Dingwall to further integrate his new team-mates following the challenges posed by coronavirus restrictions.
In his new role as skipper following the departure of
Peter Hartley, Gallagher has aimed to take the lead in fostering team spirit in unusual circumstances.
But a four-hour bus trip and a stay in the Highlands ahead of tonight’s Scottish Premiership opener against Ross County will give summer arrivals Callum Lang, Nathan McGinley, Scott Fox, Ricki Lamie and Jordan White heightened exposure to the dynamics of Stephen Robinson’s squad.
“There’s been a big difference in the sense that the boys weren’t all together from the start,” Gallagher said. “We had to train in separate pods to start with and even in the changing rooms things aren’t the same because of social distancing. There’s three different changing rooms throughout the stadium, so we are social distancing in there.
“For some of the new boys coming in, it’s maybe been a bit harder to start speaking to everyone right at the start, but slowly and surely we are getting there.
“You want to make sure they are all happy. I used to send them a text the day before they came in just saying if they needed anything or they wanted to speak about anything that I was here for them.
“It’s a good group of boys we have got here, and a lot of young boys, so everyone is quite quiet to start off with. With me being a vocal person and more experienced player, I have just been trying to get everyone together and get that team bonding the same as we had last year.
“A lot of the boys last year are still here and the new faces have come in and been flying. We are just looking to get up to Ross County and maybe have a wee bit more bonding and a few songs from the new signings. It will be good to get in amongst it.”
Gallagher is relishing his first match as club captain.
“It’s a dream for me to captain a club like this,” the 29-year-old said. “I am just buzzing and can’t wait to get the armband on.”
Meanwhile, Stuart
Kettlewell is refusing to bet against Ross County achieving a top-six finish as the Staggies aim to defy the odds yet again.
County finished in 10th place last season on their return to the Scottish Premiership and the bookmakers are predicting another tough campaign for the side.
But manager Kettlewell sees no reason his team cannot hit the jackpot and finish in the top half like Motherwell and Livingston did last season.
The County boss said: “Last year our main focus was on staying in the league. Some people said it was a tough campaign last season, but from our point of view it was job done. Now we’ve got aspirations to get higher up. We want to improve on 10th place.
“Livingston and Motherwell were great examples of teams punching well above their weight. And even during my 10 years here at the club we’ve been able to defy the odds.
“I played in a team which finished fifth under Jim McIntyre, we won the League Cup too. So we believe we can defy the odds again and upset a few people along the way.
“I won’t sit here and shout my mouth off saying where we’re going to finish, but
I can tell you we aspire to finish better than we did last season.”
Kettlewell will find himself in sole charge of the Staggies tonight for the first time since former co-manager Steven Ferguson gave up his coaching role to become the club’s chief executive. But he has no problem acknowledging the buck now stops with him alone.
“From my point of view, nothing changes,” he said.
“I’m still tasked with winning three points on a Saturday and picking a team. Nothing major has changed and I’m comfortable with the scenario. A few people have said things to me as if I’ve never had the responsibility of the job before, but after two-and-a-half years of being a co-manager I’m comfortable with what I’ve got to do.
“I’ve still got great support there from Steven. He’s doing some fantastic work behind the scenes as chief executive.
“Before, my favourite line whenever anything went wrong was that it wasn’t my decision, it was his. But I can assure you now that if I make a mistake, I’ll be the first guy to stick my hand up.”
ROSS COUNTY V MOTHERWELL
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