Manager Malky Mackay says culture shift bred success at Ross County
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
MALKY Mackay believes that instilling a new dressing room culture was essential in Ross County’s transformation from relegation candidates to European contenders.
Having won Premiership top six status, the Staggies were able to savour another huge boost this week when post-split fixtures landed them three home ties against Celtic, Motherwell and Dundee United.
The extra home match will generate welcome revenue, while there could be the added bonus of a potential sell-out final game of the season with high stakes against United. Hearts and Rangers away also lie in wait.
Reaching the top six seemed fanciful as recently as December when County remained anchored to the foot of the table. Long before then, though, the seeds of progress were evident. The dam burst with a five-goal thrashing of Dundee in October, but displays had been decent prior to ending a 10-game winless run.
“Having seen how they work in training every day, there is a correlation between that and what they produce in games,” Mackay said. “They have embraced what we wanted to implement and that begins to show on the park after a period of time in the pattern of play.
“There was a big turnover in the summer and eyebrows raised as to why some players left. There were reasons for that and people within the club realise why.
“You look now at the culture within the club, how they work for each other, the connection they have with those fans.
“I’m loving being at this football club. It is a very warm-hearted club, a tight staff, and I work for two really good men, Roy MacGregor and Steven Ferguson. We talk every day, nothing is hidden.
“I’m really enjoying being allowed to put my structure into the club and work hard and I enjoy living in Inverness and Dingwall. It is right up there for me in my career and I’m so happy for the football club.”
Mackay described the post-split draw as “mouth-watering”.
“It is absolutely fantastic, especially having our last game of the season at home,” he said. “Three home fixtures in the split is not something that the club has had regularly and there may be a lot to play for in that last game. Hopefully, it’s one where we can get a really good crowd to end the campaign.
“Our supporters will be buzzing and, as on Saturday, will come out and back us in their numbers. That means a great deal to us.”
