'I'm giving it everything', says Tokely, as he finds a fan!
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ROSS Tokely could probably pack out Ross County’s Victoria Suite twice over with supporters willing to lay on the boos.
As a Caley Thistle hero for 16 years, the rugged defender was the man the County faithful loved to hate – and old habits die hard.
Jeers from some of the Staggies’ support rang out as Tokely’s name was announced before his Dingwall debut in the SPL opener against Motherwell.
The 33-year-old is never going to be fazed by such hostility, even if he would naturally prefer full and wholehearted backing.
But there was a hint after Saturday’s draw with Celtic that Tokely was turning the tide as he came face-to-face with the first signed-up member of his County fan-club.
The big defender, impressive in County’s opening three matches – and man of the match against Motherwell – said: “It was nice on Saturday. There was a kid outside the ground with my name and number on the back of his strip.
“To be fair, he was probably the only one in the whole stadium! But I don’t really care if the supporters don’t like me – it honestly doesn’t bother me one bit.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I just want to go out and do my best for the club.
“People here at Ross County have taken a chance on me and shown faith in me. All I will do is be totally committed to this club and show that I want to do my utmost for the team.
“I’m giving it everything I have and, if the fans can see I’m doing that, that’s all I can do really.
“If there are those who don’t like me, maybe I can invite them round for dinner. It would be a pretty busy house!
“But at least I know I have one fan now – two, if you count the missus.”
Tokely has slotted seamlessly into a County defence who came within seconds of recording their third successive clean sheet against Celtic.
All of his experience, strength and positional awareness are being put to good use back in the right full-back role.
Tokely said: “I’m playing at full-back, a position I haven’t played for a couple of years and I’m just giving it my all.
“Even after the Motherwell game when I got man of the match, some of the supporters were better to me.
“I just take it game-by-game. It’s a great start for us and I couldn’t have asked for more.
“I’m quite critical of my own performances, but I’m working harder off the pitch than ever.
“I go to the gym every morning before training and put in the extra work.
“I know from the likes of Craig Brewster, one of my managers at Caley, what that can do for you and your career.
“It’s a new working environment for me here at Ross County and it has definitely given me a new lease of life.
“I’m loving it. The club have treated me so well. It has been a great move so far.
“I feel I’ve fitted in well with the lads and as soon as I came in I felt it was right and I’m enjoying every day and every game.”
County might so easily have been sitting pretty on five points from nine were it not for that controversial, late Kris Commons equaliser.
Tokely admitted: “After the game we were pretty gutted. It felt like defeat.
“Before the game, you would have taken a draw against Celtic.
“But I watched the game again and the performance level from every one of us was extremely good. To go that close to victory against the champions is a credit to the way we have been playing over the last three games.
“To get the win and a third clean sheet would have been great, but to have three points and be unbeaten after three is a good, solid start.
“There’s such a fine line between success and failure at this level. We can certainly use that confidence going into the next game against Dundee.
“If we keep going the way we are, we have a good chance in the league.
“We are just going about our business quietly and setting our own targets but we have a belief in the dressing room – and the spirit and togetherness is fantastic.”
