Fortrose teenager signs professional contract at Ross County
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Ryan MacLeman has become the latest product of Ross County’s youth academy to put pen to paper on a professional contract.
The 17-year-old has signed a two-year modern apprenticeship with the Staggies, having trained with Malky Mackay’s first team squad at the start of pre-season.
He is no stranger to the coaching set up in Dingwall, as he has worked with the club’s now assistant manager, Don Cowie, in the under-18 and reserve squads.
MacLeman has been part of County’s system for around a decade already, first joining as a participant in the club’s Dingwall Soccer Centres, before becoming part of the age group squads at nine years old.
Last season, Josh Reid set the standard for the current crop of academy graduates, becoming a fixture in the starting 11 at left back before moving to Coventry City in January.
Now, MacLeman joins Matthew Wright, Ben Williamson, Adam MacKinnon and Logan Ross in the squad.
Wright, Williamson and MacKinnon all made their first team debuts in the Betfred Cup group stage last season, and MacLeman may well be hoping to receive the same opportunity later this month.
Don Cowie is arguably the highest profile homegrown player County have produced, and Malky Mackay hopes to see MacLeman follow in his footsteps.
“Ryan joined us for pre-season and has adapted very well,” said Mackay.
“He has worked hard, pushed himself every day.
“He has already shown me how comfortable he is on the ball.
“It is important that we continue the tradition at our club of developing young talent.
“I am sure our fans love to see young players from the Highlands in the Ross County shirt.
“Ryan is testament to the great work being done in our academy.
“Hopefully he can go on and follow in the footsteps of former graduates such as Don, who has been working closely with him for years.”
MacLeman himself added: “It is really exciting to sign my first professional contract and doing it with my local club is something I have been working towards for a number of years now, and is very important to me.
“I’ve been involved with the club for so long, and I look at some of our academy players of the past and I would love to follow their pathways. I need to keep working hard, keep developing and I want to keep showing my abilities and potential every day.”
Ross County face Elgin City in their first pre-season friendly at Borough Briggs tomorrow.
