Goal hero nets new contract
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JOHNNY Flynn, who scored the goal to keep Ross County in Irn Bru Division One, has signed a new one-year contract with the Dingwall club.
The Northern Irish defender (21), who has previously starred for his country at under-21 level, and ever-improving midfielder Stuart Kettlewell (26) have agreed new 12-month contracts with the club’s director of football George Adams.
With the manager Jimmy Calderwood’s future still to be decided, Adams is working busily in the background trying to secure the main Staggies stars for next season’s First Division campaign.
Those who are out of contract later this month are Michael McGovern, Paul Di Giacomo, Darren Smith, Iain Vigurs, Darren McCormack and Andy Barrowman.
Boss Calderwood, meanwhile, revealed how he’ll turn from rival to supporter when Cowdenbeath – managed by his mate Jimmy Nicholl – enter the dreaded play-off next week.
County’s 1-0 win at Falkirk on Saturday means only an 11-goal win for ninth-placed Blue Brazil at Dingwall on Saturday would see the clubs trade places on this, the final weekend of the season.
Cowden beat Stirling Albion 1-0 at the weekend with a late goal to seemingly draw level on points with the Staggies.
Then Flynn buried the header which beat Falkirk and County’s safety in the First Division was all but secure.
Calderwood against Nicholl at the foot of the table was always going to be spicy and the County manager said: “I’m sure the press have enjoyed the “two Jimmys” story as we have taken over some of the headlines from the bigger clubs.
“It was always going to be a very difficult game this Saturday, but it will be even more so now that they’ll be looking to go into the play-offs in fine form.
“Their heads may be down a wee bit now, but if anyone can lift them, it’s Jimmy.
“As much as we like one another, it’s dog eat dog and I’ll be his biggest supporter in the play-offs. We still have this game to get through, but we’d deserve nothing if we lose 11-0.
“We were talking after the game on Saturday and it just shows you how football goes in terms of emotions. He was shook hands with the referee in the understanding we’d failed to win and he walks off to hear that we scored in the last minute. He’s my best mate and I do feel sorry for him, but there’s no sympathy in football.”
Calderwood reckons the Blue Brazil will have a fight on their hands to win through the play-offs, especially if John Robertson’s East Fife edge out Brechin City for that fourth spot this weekend and play Cowden.
He said: “As Jimmy says, they are only a part-time club. At the start of the season, they probably would have accepted this position they find themselves in. He’s a very positive guy and his players are too.
“If East Fife get in there, that could set up a local derby and that could be very difficult.”
Calderwood will hope Steven Milne and Paul Lawson can shake off knocks by the weekend, but insists he’ll take no risks in terms of injury in the final Saturday of the campaign.
