Hughes feels fire burning at Ross County
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John Hughes says he has a fire burning inside him again as he aims to save Ross County from relegation.
The ex-ICT manager was appointed as Staggies boss until the end of the season on Monday following the departure of Stuart Kettlewell, having spent the last three years out of the game.
Time away from the dugout has proven valuable for Hughes, who is desperate to try and recreate his former success in the Highlands on the other side of the Kessock Bridge in Dingwall.
“There was one or two jobs that I had the chance to go and take, but it had to be the right one,” Hughes said.
“Everybody knows the facilities we’ve got at Ross County, and it’s a well-run football club. When the opportunity came up, it was the one for me.
“I have a real fire in my belly, a real desire, to get going and help the players.
“That’s what I’m in here for, to manage the club but also to help the players along.
“We have no illusions over the massive task in front of us, but from what I’ve seen we’ll give it a right good go.”
Hughes took charge of County for the first time at Celtic last night, but from what he’s already seen in training, he is confident of keeping the club up.
“Stuart had them playing good football, but the problem is that sometimes we’re too expansive and we’re losing goals,” he added.
“We’re going to play football and try and take the game to the opposition, but we have to be a little bit more resolute.
“Hamilton came and picked our pockets on Saturday, and we can’t let that happen.
“It’s all in place, when I was working on stuff at the start of the week, the boys got it. There are good players here, I just need to help them along.
“It’s all right to laugh, we are where we are but we’re not going to feel sorry for ourselves or despondent, we’re going to do something about it. They can’t get despondent, because we’ll go again, and again.”
Hughes’ last role in management before taking County to Celtic Park was a short-lived spell at Raith Rovers at the end of the 2016/17 season.
Despite the time he spent away from the dugout though, he did not expect to have to shake off any rustiness on his way to Glasgow.
“I was a cyclist the last time I was here in Inverness, I went out on the bike on Monday and I never fell off,” he said.
“Managing is like riding a bike, so it’s nothing new and I’m looking forward to it.
“With years behind me now, I’m bringing more experience to the job. I’m not that young firebrand, I’m more calculated, and that’s what I have to bring.
“I have to be that guy, not show my emotions and be calculated to help my team out, and that’s what I plan to do.”
