County have learned the vital lessons of relegation

DELIGHTING in being just a little bit different, a renewed Ross County feel ready to embrace their Premiership return after a one-season absence.

The Dingwall club employed three different management teams when relegated during a turbulent 2017-18 campaign, with co-bosses Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell unable to fashion a great escape following their belated appointment.

Since then, however, it has been a story of continuity and community. Ferguson and Kettlewell delivered a riposte to those who questioned whether twin figureheads could actually work by steering County through a competitive Championship with aplomb. Automatic promotion was secured as divisional champions, with the Irn-Bru Cup thrown in for added positivity.

Building squad unity and making the most of their relatively isolated position on the map were among the key tenets of that impressive success. They will remain so now the Dingwall outfit are back in a more rarefied environment.

‘Where we are geographically is never going to change, so we can’t run like a central belt club,’ Ferguson (right) told

Sportsmail. ‘We have so many different challenges.

‘What we need is for people to buy into the area and acknowledge our club has a massive role to play in the community of Dingwall and the Highlands. If players or staff have one eye on down the road, then it doesn’t work.

‘We want to use where we are in Scotland and have our own way of doing things. What people might think are weaknesses, we turn into positive things about this club.

‘The boys spend a lot of time together away from the club so everyone is able to socialise. Wives, partners and girlfriends also buy into the club ethos and that whole spirit carries over onto the pitch.

‘Last season was a prime example of it. There were times when we were really struggling injury-wise and had to dig deep. But you always felt everyone was on board and pulling in the same direction. That’s from the chairman (Roy MacGregor) at the top to the backroom staff. Everyone wanted what was best for the club rather than as individuals.

‘When we are recruiting, that character and personality are the first part of the profile Stuart and I look at. Technical ability and experience are every bit as important but if they don’t have that cultural part about

them, then it’s not going to be as effective.

‘Listen, when the weather turns it’s harder than down the road. Training can’t be affected because of where we are. We want players who will train on AstroTurf, train in the afternoon and who don’t just jump in their cars when training is finished.’

Recruitment this summer has been a case of evolution rather than revolution. County already owned a solid amount of Premiership experience and, in Billy Mckay, boast a proven goalscorer eager to show he can still deliver against the nation’s best defences.

But what of those in charge? For Ferguson and Kettlewell, this will be a first proper campaign against the likes of Neil Lennon, Steven Gerrard, Derek McInnes and the rest of the Premiership coaches.

‘We had ten games previously and genuinely thought we had a fighting chance of staying in the league,’ reflected Ferguson.

‘Unfortunately, we were unable to do that. ‘We feel we are in a different position now. We learned a hell of a lot on the job last year. We know it is going to be a big challenge but it is fresh, it’s good and it’s everything we wanted to be involved in. ‘I think everyone doubts how it works between us — apart from Stuart and me. There is no huge ego clash where one is happy to step back and let the other lead. We understand each other’s thinking.

‘Stuart is a completely different character to me but we just seem to join up at the right times.

‘It has been an absolute pleasure, to be honest, and we feel we have answered a lot of questions and doubts that might have been there. Even from our own chairman.

‘We didn’t want to give answers with our mouths but through our actions in recruitment, style of football and, most importantly, success on the pitch.’

True to his word, Ferguson offers no rash predictions about where County might finish this season. But teams are unlikely to relish a trip up the A9 and across the Kessock Bridge.

‘We totally respect the league and the teams in it,’ continued Ferguson. ‘Ross County have no given right whatsoever to be in the Premiership, so we will try and take every opportunity to be there again next year.’