Ross County manager Don Cowie pays tribute to support system, including chief executive Steven Ferguson and chairman Roy MacGregor, after passing 50 matches in charge of the Dingwall club
Don Cowie says he is still loving every second of being Ross County manager – and has credited the support from those around him with helping him through.
Last weekend’s win over Dundee was Cowie’s 50th match in charge of the Staggies, marking the occasion in style as Kieran Phillips, Akil Wright and Noah Chilvers all found the back of the net.
That result also means Cowie had a win ratio of 36 per cent through his first 50 matches in charge, putting him on par with Jim McIntyre and Derek Adams’ second spell in charge in Dingwall.
There have been some clear highlights in Cowie’s spell so far – such as beating Rangers for the first time in County’s history, comfortably winning last season’s relegation play-off and even the win over Dundee on Boxing Day that both brought their 15-month winless run on the road to a halt, and kickstarted their resurgence up the Premiership table in the second half of this season.
As Cowie’s first role as a number one, there were always going to be elements of a learning curve, even with his familiarity with the Dingwall outfit.
However, despite the challenges that have come his way, he is still enjoying the job – and he has credited both his coaching staff and those running the club with helping him every step of the way.
“For someone who has come into the role for the first time, I always say I have great support around me from Roy MacGregor, Steven Ferguson and then the coaching staff beyond them,” he explained.
“That is a real comfort for a new manager to have that support.
“I always knew there would be highs and lows, and what’s important is that how I react is consistent regardless.
“That’s important when you’re leading the team, because there will be moments where you face adversity, and moments where you have highs – like beating Rangers – but you have to remain level and calm.
“In terms of my individual role, I knew some aspects would be different. There are so many other things that you have to think about. It’s not just about training and the game.
“You have 30 players to look after who may be facing their own challenges off the pitch, and you try to help them as much as possible no matter what’s going on.
“You have to be open-minded, and my door is open all the time so that players can feel comfortable coming to speak to me and share what’s been going on.
“Also, take last Saturday – I was delighted to beat Dundee 3-1 in an important win, but my focus instantly turned to St Johnstone on Wednesday. That’s something that you only realise once you’re a manager.”
