Football Season Guide

Although County finished bottom of the Scottish Premiership last season, they have been installed as one of the favourites to win the title. One win in their last 12 games and a squad clearout makes their tag as favourites a little odd. However, it’s expected they will be competitive, but title-winners bouncing straight back up seems a little optimistic. There’s no clear favourite this season and it’s going to be a tight league so County have a chance. Competition offered by derby-rivals, Inverness, should also spur them on. Ross County had six seasons in the Scottish Premiership, which is no mean feat for a small club from the Highlands. Now costs have been cut and the clearout amounted to 16 players including the end of loan spells. The quality of Jason Naismith, Greg Tansey and Alex Schalk will be missed in Dingwall. It remains to be discovered if the new management duo of Steve Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell can mould and motivate a new squad of players. Most teams don’t like the long journey to the Highlands and County must take advantage of that. County have drafted in a host of Championship experience for the new season. The most significant of the new arrivals is Iain Vigurs who returns for a second spell at County. Vigurs is a Scottish Premiership-quality midfielder and brings desire and goals to midfield. Their defence will be built around Keith Watson, Callum Morris and Stelios Demetriou. Ex-Dunfermline striker, Declan McManus, is hoping to be among the goals as County press for the title, but his scoring rate in recent seasons is hardly startling. Teams demoted into the Championship often suffer and County could be one of them. They have been punching way above their weight for years and could be facing some lean times as they face up to financial realities in the Championship. The Championship will be evenly contested this season with no clear front-runner expected. If County can get quickly organised and build a strong record at home then the play-offs are entirely possible.