Staggies promote young buck Reid to first-team squad

Ross County have promoted Josh Reid to their first-team squad, with the left back among nine youngsters to be signed on new deals.

Reid has long been on the radar of Staggies co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson, and was regularly part of the first-team matchday squad last season on top of his involvement with the under-18 and reserve teams.

The 18-year-old will now join the Staggies first team for next season, after signing a new contract with the Dingwall club.

Stornoway-born forward Matthew Wright, midfielder Josh Black and defender Ben Williamson will remain with County’s development squad, having also agreed new contracts.

Goalkeeper Logan Ross has signed his first professional deal on a modern apprenticeship, while fellow goalkeeper Jamie Stephen, defender Harvey Kane and midfielders Craig MacKenzie and Adam MacKinnon have also agreed new terms.

A Ross County club statement said: “We have high hopes for all of our youth players and we know how hard they have worked and the commitment from our coaches to developing them, in particular Richie Brittain, Don Cowie and Liam Fontaine.

“All of the players who have signed new deals have, at one point or another, trained with the first team during the past year or had exposure to firstteam training and understand the dedication it requires.

“But we believe we have a strong pathway for them to continue to develop and get to that next level.

“We feel that we have a great group of talented youngsters who have now committed their future to this club and we will work tirelessly with them to try and take them as far as we can.”

The renewals come after the Staggies released 10 reserve players earlier this week, along with four first team players.

County are still awaiting responses from skipper Marcus Fraser and fellow defender Callum Morris, who have been offered new deals.

“We have high hopes for all our youth players”

Promising: Josh Reid