Jordan’s foresight has paid off after taking high road to Dingwall
It was a decision laden with risk for Jordan White, the Ross County striker, as he voluntarily walked away from the safety of 18 remaining months at mid-table Motherwell.
The extent to which that January gamble has paid off should become apparent at close of play today.
There will be no regrets over the choice either way for the 29-year-old target man, who grew frustrated on the Fir Park fringes long before incoming Graham Alexander sanctioned his departure to the relegationthreatened Staggies.
White, who made his career mark at Stirling Albion, Livingston and along the road in Inverness before the Bosman move to Motherwell last summer, just wants to play football.
The Bellshill-born striker would prefer that to be in the Premiership, rather than the Championship. But if given the choice again, the decision would be exactly the same.
Seventeen substitute appearances and only three starts came under Stephen Robinson and Alexander, and White stressed: “For me, I had to make that move. I still had another year-and-a-half left at Motherwell, and could easily have sat on that.
“That’s not in my character, though. I want to be playing football, making an impact and scoring goals. So it’s the best
decision I’ve made.
“In all fairness to Graham Alexander, he told me he couldn’t guarantee me gametime when he came in.
“He was just finding his feet, and it was hard for him to make a snap decision or promise me game-time.
“I was already frustrated from before then so, for me, it was just about playing games.
“For my mental state, on and off the pitch, I have to be happy. So, for me, it was a no-brainer when the opportunity came to join Ross County.”
White’s arrival, following the short-term appointment of John Hughes in place of the sacked Stuart Kettlewell, co-incided with a relative upswing in results for the Staggies.
Form has remained inconsistent, but the overall run has brought five league wins, five defeats and a draw.
White said: “We’ve always had the belief and, actually, if you look at results since January, the form has been pretty good.
“We’ve had some good results in there, but the problem has been failing to put back-to-back wins together. Until this past week, it has always been win one, lose one
“The confidence has always been there and, in the last few weeks, everyone has really pulled together.
“Getting back-to-back wins over Dundee United and Hamilton Accies was massive. That’s only the second time we’ve done it this season.
“I’d always have taken that scenario, and that kind of form, going into the last game.”
With Hamilton all-butrelegated, County require a single point to spare them the play-offs at Kilmarnock’s expense.
The Ayrshire men must win away to Accies.
White added: “Even before the split games were announced, you could see how tight it would be come the last matches, regardless.
“Wedidwhatwehadtodo the other night, and got the win. Kilmarnock took a point, so they still have a chance of staying up automatically.
“We’ve got to now go and do our business on Sunday.
“Obviously, for personal reasons, it would be great to get a result at Fir Park, but it is all about the team and club.
“I won’t expect any favours from Motherwell. They’re going for seventh place, and it is going to be a tough game.
“They are the form team in the lower half at the moment, but we will go there with full belief, and we know what we need to do.
“There is pressure, but I look at it as a challenge. From where we were in January, we’ve come a long way. At one point, I’m sure we were four points behind Killie, and they had a game in hand.
“They’ve been in great form so to be in the position we are in, we’ve done really well.
“It is just one last push now.”