DON OF A NEW ERA
Club hero Cowie handed gaffer role
DON COWIE says his first task will be to restore “a calmness” to Ross County after a stormy 79 days under Derek Adams.
The Premiership club confirmed it was not actively looking for an alternative candidate after naming club legend Cowie as interim manager for an unspecified length of time.
The 40-year-old, with a hugely successful past club and international playing career at club and rich coaching experience at County, declared himself ready for his first big frontline post.
Having coached the first team under Stuart Kettlewell and then John Hughes, Cowie served as assistant under both Mackay and Adams.
A respected figure with the players, he will look to unite the squad after a short but controversy-strewn spell under Adams.
Cowie’s predecessor, back for his third stint in charge at the club, caused uproar with post-match pronouncements.
An initially positive start, with seven points from nine, plummeted into a nine-game winless run featuring only two draws, culminating in Adams’ resignation after a 5-0 thumping at Motherwell.
Cowie, who will be assisted by head of youth Carl Tremarco, said: “My remit is to take charge of the club on an interim basis.
“There is no timescale on that. The club is not actively looking for a manager.
“It is my job to bring a calmness to this club and make sure we get the players playing again, and being competitive, making sure we stay in this league.”
Cowie’s playing career took him from seven first-team years at County to Caley Thistle, Watford, and then Cardiff City at the peak of his playing days, tasting the English Premier League.
There were also 10 Scotland caps, moves to Wigan, Hearts and then back to Dingwall, completing the full circle.
Cowie said: “I’m very proud to be in the position I’m in right now. I feel I’m ready. If it wasn’t here it could have been somewhere else. The fact it is Ross County, I’m delighted.
“Being at this club [as permanent manager] is something I’d love to do, but I know it is about getting results. I’m not looking too far ahead.
“The focus is on making an impact on the team before the end of this season.”
Cowie, who faces Rangers away in his first match on Wednesday night, can draw on a rich array of experiences in the game.
He said: “I’ve worked under unbelievable managers. Throughout, I looked at where I could take help, advice and experience from.
“I’ve worked under Brendan Rodgers at Watford which was a real eye-opener in terms of the level of detail. I worked under Sean Dyche, a motivator, and Malky Mackay has played a big part in my career. There are countless others I could mention. It is also about me being myself and making sure I put my own stamp on it.
“The message to the players is about togetherness. There are a number of players who have come in at the end of the January window and were probably wondering what was going on. I have made it clear we need everyone. Ross County do well when we are united on and off the pitch. That’s the main message.”
Asked how difficult it might be to repair confidence after the damaging run of results under Adams, Cowie stressed: “It’s not difficult. Confidence has taken a knock and it is about me giving them that belief and that platform to show what they can do.”
The focus is on making an impact on the team before the end of the season DON COWIE ON TAKING THE COUNTY HOTSEAT