The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Staggies can beat the drop
Melbourne reckons new men at the top have steadied team
Ross County defender Max Melbourne hopes the permanent appointment of Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson as comanagers can accelerate the Staggies’ Premiership survival bid.
Kettlewell and Ferguson have been handed the reins at Victoria Park having overseen an improvement in form since they took over on a temporary basis following the resignation of Owen Coyle last month.
Although County are a point adrift at the foot of the table with four games left, starting with Saturday’s trip to Hamilton Accies, on-loan West Bromwich Albion leftback Melbourne has seen enough in recent weeks to suggest they can avoid relegation, with one win and three draws in six games since Kettlewell and Ferguson took charge.
Melbourne said: “They both clearly know what they are doing as they have been in and around the club for a long time.
“They show real passion towards the players and staff so I have been impressed.
“Their style of football is good and it seems to be working with our last performances.
“There are only a few games left but our past performances show there has been improvement in the team.
“We are unbeaten with one goal conceded in three games.
“Collectively as a team, we feel we can get out of it and we just want to show everyone that.”
While County have now mapped out their leadership plan irrespective of whether they remain in the topflight, the future is far less certain for Melbourne’s parent club.
The Baggies’ relegation to the English Championship is all but confirmed, despite a recent upturn in form under caretaker manager Darren Moore.
Englishman Melbourne, who joined the Staggies on loan in January, previously worked under Moore within the Hawthorns’ youth setup but insists he is not looking beyond his spell with County.
The 19-year-old added: “West Brom are not in the best of positions and currently undergoing relegation. When I have popped my head back in and see the people in charge led by Darren Moore – nobody deserves it more than him.
“He has done a great job recently and hopefully they can go on fighting until the end of the season.
“I have known Darren for a long time now, he has worked closely with me with the defenders.
“He’s a great guy and it’s encouraging knowing someone I have worked with closely is now in charge of the first team, but I am just focusing on Ross County just now.
“I have got a job up here to do. Saturday was my fourth start at senior level. I have played a few friendlies down the road at West Brom but nothing competitive. This is what I have been preparing for for the last 11 years of playing football –it’s men’s football.
“Of course the position we are in is not ideal but it’s a great test of character for myself and everyone in the team, that we’ve got the fighting spirit and we are prepared to get out of it.
“It’s going to be more demanding, it’s a big step up from the under-23s level I’ve been playing at previously. I think I’ve coped well and I think I’m only going to get stronger with every game I get the chance to play in.”