County chief defends his decision to axe McIntyre
SAYS JIM McINTYRE
ROSS COUNTY chairman Roy MacGregor last night stood firm over his call to sack manager Jim McIntyre by insisting he had seen no signs of improvement in the team following a poor start to the season. McIntyre, who led the Highlanders to League Cup glory and their first top-six finish during his three years in charge, admitted he was shocked at being axed — and claimed County had acted too soon. But four points from the team’s opening seven Premiership games this season forced MacGregor to pull the trigger. ‘We had a struggle last season but got it together right at the end,’ said the County chairman. ‘This year, I didn’t see us moving on, particularly in the league. ‘I had to make a judgement call on whether this was the right time. Would I wait 11 games for the first quarter? Over the last two or three games, I didn’t see anything that gave me that encouragement it was going to turn.’
SHELL-SHOCKED Jim McIntyre last night described his devastation at being sacked by Ross County just seven games into the season.
The 2016 League Cup-winning manager had no inkling of a doorstep visit from chairman Roy MacGregor on Sunday following five losses in six league games.
MacGregor spent half an hour explaining his reasoning at McIntyre’s Inverness base. But the 45-year-old former Kilmarnock, Dundee United and Dunfermline striker was unable to sway his boss despite pleading his case for more time.
McIntyre, who departs along with his assistant Billy Dodds, then reported to the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall yesterday morning to personally break the news to his players.
Describing himself as ‘very sore’ following the decision, McIntyre said: ‘I’m pretty shocked, I’ve got to be honest — really disappointed. I think it is a very harsh decision, particularly when you have had a run of fixtures like we’ve had.
‘The chairman said the home form needed to be better. Well, we’ve had Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibs in Dingwall.
‘I know certain games could have been better, but you’ve seen the chances we’ve created.
‘We’ve seen the players bursting their backsides, coming back into games, showing good spirit. When you have a group of players like that, the dressing room is together.
‘Normally, when a manager gets the sack, it is because they are haemorrhaging three or four goals every week and the dressing room is split.
‘We had none of that and were still putting so much into games, but the fine margins of putting the ball in the net and keeping it out were just missing.
‘There was a lot to suggest it wasn’t far from turning. I think it is way too early to make this call.
‘What is success for Ross County? We finished seventh, sixth and won a major trophy, as well as the job we did in the first season in keeping them up.
‘You start to ask yourself: “What is success?”’
The highlight of McIntyre’s reign, after succeeding sacked Derek Adams in September 2014, was beating Hibs at Hampden in March 2016 to lift the League Cup. Celtic had previously been dispatched in the semi-finals.
McIntyre remains proud of his County track record, stressing: ‘It has been a brilliant three years.
‘Every year, we’ve had success. Success for Ross County is staying in this league — and to win a cup was an unbelievable occasion.
‘I’ve had a brilliant relationship with Roy MacGregor, but I do feel really harshly treated. Making a decision this early, I don’t understand it.
‘I feel it is extremely harsh considering the run of fixtures we’ve had. Our target this year was between seventh and ninth.
‘If we were to beat Killie on Saturday, you’re within that target. That’s how harsh it is given the type of fixtures we’ve had and how close we’ve been to winning a couple of them.’
For his part, an emotional McGregor described axing McIntyre as the hardest decision of his life.
Despite a ruthless parting of ways, the County chief gave a glowing assessment of the departed manager’s contribution to the Highland club. But the 64-year-old stressed he had put the interests of fans and shareholders first.
He said: ‘We had a struggle last season, but we got it together right at the end.
‘Probably this year, I didn’t see us moving on, particularly in the league.
‘I had to make a judgment call on whether this was the right time, seven games in. Would I wait 11 games for the first quarter? Over the last two or three games, I didn’t see anything that gave me encouragement it was going to turn.
‘In many regards, Jim has done a wonderful job. It was the most difficult task I’ve had on Sunday spending time with him and going through it. Naturally, he felt that he should have been given more time.
‘We had three great years together and he did a lot for the club. Ultimately, you’re judged by results and we haven’t had them in the last while.
‘It’s not a nice job, but my responsibility, sadly, is to the punters and shareholders. If I don’t see it going right, and my fellow directors don’t see it going right, I have to make a judgement call.’
Despite the historic cup win, McIntyre never enjoyed a great love-in with an often critical County support. But MacGregor denied pressure from the stands — including a banner last April calling for the manager’s head — played a part in his sacking.
The chairman felt County were standing still and that he was getting no return after backing his manager to build County’s ‘strongest-ever squad’.
Paul Hartley and Alan Stubbs have been linked with the post, while youth coach and past player Stuart Kettlewell is highly-rated within the club. But MacGregor insisted there have been no covert moves to identify a replacement.
He added: ‘For quite a portion of last season, we were quite poor.
‘We got it together in the end, so I backed the manager. Surviving in this league is good, but I thought we added well in the summer. This is probably the best squad we have had, but we haven’t made it work.
‘I don’t know where it has gone wrong. All I know is it hasn’t gone right.’