Fraser backs Kettlewell-ferguson duo to keep defying history books
The viability of the co-managers concept has invariably proved to be flawed down the decades but Marcus Fraser believes Ross County are the exception to the rule.
Aberdeen announced Alex Smith and Jocky Scott as joint bosses in 1988 but while they were a good team, everyone knew that Smith was really calling the shots.
Alan Sugar made Ray Clemence and Doug Livermore an equal partnership at Tottenham after promoting Terry Venables to chief executive in 1991 but it was a disaster.
It was the same at Bolton where Colin Todd and Roy Mcfarland – a magnificent central defensive partnership with Derby in the 1970s – simply did not work as a management duo.
As for Liverpool’s soppy mess of making Gerrard Houllier co-manager with Roy Evans in 1998, it was ludicrous sentimentality and Evans was gone within a few months.
However, as far as Fraser is concerned, Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson are the ideal double act that will keep County in the Ladbrokes Premiership having come straight back up after the 2018 relegation.
The Staggies captain said: “The two managers have different personalities, but they have the same ideas footballwise.
“It’s a good partnership and they get on with the boys really well.
“They will take different parts of each training session, but they have the same idea and it all goes to the same view towards who we are playing on a Saturday. It’s a good mix.
“At the side of the park, Ketts is a bit more hands on, whereas Fergie takes in the game to look and see what they can change from that. It’s working well and hopefully that can continue.”
“Knowing them personally, they are not wanting people to say how good they are. They just like going to their work every day and doing their business. If they are doing that, they are happy.
“Fair play to them, they have been brilliant for me and the rest of the team.”
County are one of the favourites to be relegated, SPFL sponsors Ladbrokes seeing it as a battle involving Hamilton, Livingston, St Mirren and the Highlanders.
Fraser asserts that County are coming back to the top flight with a winning mentality having effectively strolled the Championship last season.
He said: “Going down last year was not the best thing that happened, but I think it got the players close together again. We started winning games, which was important.
“I think this year we’re in good hands.
“There are no negative thoughts on anybody’s mind really. We want to try to continue this winning habit we’ve been on.”