Bold McIntyre insists County must deliver and reach the top six
MOST managers usually shy away from going public when it comes to setting targets they believe are achievable in a new season.
Or, if they do put something out there to chew on, they tend to play things down. Not so, Jim McIntyre.
The 43-year- old Ross County manager has a firm belief that his club can make significant progress in this campaign.
Last season, by the turn of the year, they looked certainties for relegation. But McIntyre — who replaced Derek Adams 11 months ago when the club sat bottom of the Premiership — made changes in the January transfer window. The signings of Craig Curran and Raffaele de Vita were pivotal.
The team went on an impressive run, picking up 25 points from nine league games to pull clear of the relegation zone and finish ninth in the table.
Now, McIntyre wants them to kick on again and push into the top six. An appearance at Hampden in a Cup Final is also something he has set his sights on.
McIntyre told Sportsmail: ‘The way we finished last season was brilliant. I was so proud of the players and so happy for the backroom staff, the chairman and the supporters.
‘I would love to say I sat back on holiday and reflected on it, but that wouldn’t be completely true. I did take a breath now and again to take it all in. It made me smile. But that was more for the staff and everyone who contributed — even in the smallest of ways. It wasn’t all about me and Billy Dodds.
‘Normally at the end of a season, I would go away golfing for a few days and then go on a family holiday. But I didn’t golf. I stayed here for 10 days to try and recruit as many players as possible and get our pre-season plans in place. That was so important.
‘When we took over, the fitness levels of the players weren’t as good as I wanted them to be for the style of football I wanted to implement. We’re in great shape now and the players all worked hard in the few weeks leading up to the new season. I couldn’t have asked for more from them.
‘We’ve played three games — a win, a draw and a defeat. We’ve played well. It was great to get a win against Hamilton. The chairman ( Roy MacGregor) reminded me a few times that the club had had bad starts in the previous two seasons. So I was acutely aware of the importance of winning as quickly as possible.
‘Now we need to add consistency. For me, that is the key word. I look at clubs such as Inverness Caley Thistle and St Johnstone and have nothing but admiration for what they have achieved in recent years between winning cups and finishing in the top six.
‘We need to look at that and learn from it. We need to build on the final three months of last season. I think we can finish top six. That has to be a realistic aim. We want to go far in the cups, make an impact. But we need to deliver.’
McIntyre is another of our young Scottish managers with the potential to go on to bigger and better things. Astute i n the transfer market and progressive on the training ground, he has been a hugely successful appointment by MacGregor.
They enjoy an excellent working relationship and, privately, the chairman will admit to enjoying it while it l asts as he expects someone to knock his door in the next 12 months asking to take his manager away.
McIntyre is in no rush to go anywhere. He wants to solidify the club. He also enjoys life in the Highlands.
He said: ‘A former team-mate of mine, Jim Lauchlan, told me that this part of the world is great to live in and that Ross County is a fine football club. He is absolutely right.
‘There’s a rivalry between the t wo f ootball clubs, but no nastiness. It’s refreshing. The feeling that really hits you is the warmth you get from the people — even from the Inverness fans. I’ve been made to feel really welcome.
‘But the most important thing is that I’m here to work and be successful. I remind the players to have a strong work ethic every day. Nobody at this club will ever rest on their laurels.’