Defender speaks of pride of being temporary captain at Ross County
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RYAN Leak says it is an honour to be given the captain’s armband as he will attempt to lead Ross County out of relegation trouble in the Scottish Premiership.
The defender has been made stand-in skipper of the Staggies with Jack Baldwin out injured and assistant captain Ross Laidlaw on the substitutes bench with George Wickens the current choice in between the posts.
Leak, who arrived at Ross County in the summer from Salford City, was made captain of the team last week in the 3-1 defeat at Rangers and 2-0 loss at Dundee. He is taking great pride being captain and will look to lead the team out of trouble.
He said: “The gaffer pulled me in before the game against Rangers and told me that I was going to be the captain.
“It is an honour and privilege to be named as the captain as it was great to be asked.
“I was scratching to get back on the pitch and when he told me I said thanks to the gaffer.
“I have to lead the boys now until the skipper comes back in and I consider it a real privilege.”
Ross County have gone 10 games without a win in the Premiership following their 2-0 defeat to Dundee at the Kilmac Stadium on Saturday.
Scott Tiffoney scored on the stroke of half time and midway through the second half to give Dundee all three points.
The result means Ross County stay in 11th place on 19 points.
They are now only three points ahead of Livingston at the bottom following their 1-0 win against St Mirren at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Leak says while Ross County had chances to find the net, knows defensive mistakes are what cost them a result.
“It was about fine margins in the end,” he said.
“Conceding a goal late in the first half kills you.
“Simon Murray had a great chance in the first half but their goalkeeper pulled off a worldy of a save.
“If we scored that, it would have been a different game, but when they scored the second goal, it is always hard to come back from that.
“We won’t sit with our heads down, there is a togetherness building with everyone fighting for each other.
“But split decisions which lead to conceding goals kills you.”
Ross County face Livingston in Dingwall on Saturday where another defeat might see the Staggies drop to the foot of the table.
Leak says they know how big Saturday is.
He said: “Every game is a big game for us now.
“We have to stop focussing on other teams and just focus on ourselves.
“We have a week to recover for what is going to be a massive game.”
