Manager Malky Mackay hopes to engage with Ross County faithful
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Ross County are planning events in the near future to engage with the club’s supporters, according to manager Malky Mackay.
The Staggies have made a point on several occasions of praising the backing they are receiving from fans this season during home games.
Covid has meant that events outside of matchdays have generally not been possible the way they normally would, but after the latest government announcements they should be doable again soon.
Mackay is keen to reach back out to the supporters, knowing first-hand from his previous clubs how important having that bond can be.
“I was a product in my managerial career of Graham Taylor at Watford,” Mackay explained.
“He was someone who really encapsulated everything about the community of that football club.
“About 70,000 people live in Watford on the outskirts of London, and Graham took that job on and changed that football club.
“He used to take players out on a Thursday night around the local pubs – nowadays that would obviously be frowned upon, but him and the players would go to five or six pubs in Watford, be there for half an hour and have chats.
“It was so innovative, and Watford became an incredible community club.
“At Celtic, part of our job as players was to go to supporters’ association’s evenings. Every one of us had at least five or six a year to do, so it’s something that has been ingrained in me.
“Down at Cardiff at first, the chief executive, myself and the captain went up into the valleys behind Cardiff to three 250-people venues to have a pint and a Q&A.
“It goes back to Jock Stein saying that without fans, football is nothing. Everyone is now seeing that, having empty stadiums was dire.”
County have one of the biggest catchment areas of any professional football club in the UK, and Mackay wants to ensure the club’s efforts go far and wide.
“I want to go out the way as well, because I’m keen to forage for our fan base far and wide so that our fans do get to see and speak to players, staff and me,” he added.
“It’s important that they get to hear what we’ve got to say. In the modern day on social media, what people are perceived to be versus what they might be could be different, and once people meet people sometimes perceptions change.”
