Staff thanked amid Ross County call-off chaos
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Malky Mackay paid tribute to the behind-the-scenes staff at Ross County after Covid-19 was thrust back into the football spotlight in recent days.
Twice the Staggies saw scheduled matches against Hibernian called off because of an outbreak at the Easter Road outfit – just a few hours before kick off in last Saturday’s example.
County know exactly what it is like for the virus to impact football having been hit themselves at the start of this season, forcing two forfeits in the League Cup group stage that hastened their exit from the competition.
Since the pandemic started, that is the only time the club have been affected by Covid, though, and Mackay has praised the staff working on protocols over the last 20 months, as well as the last week.
“Processes come into place, and I’ve got good staff that are dealing with it,” Mackay explained.
“(Club secretary) Fiona MacBean has been an absolute star because of the work that she’s put in over the last few days.
“I would also say that because of the way she’s handled things from last year, way before I came here, all the way through to today.
“She has put all the protocols that the club have in place and made sure everything is adhered to to make sure that the correct procedures are done at our club.”
While last night’s call off felt like a formality, Saturday’s short notice cancellation was particularly frustrating as Mackay saw first-hand the disappointment on fans’ faces.
“There was a family that came up from London on holiday, and the father had surprised the kids by bringing them along here to watch the game,” he added.
“A Hibs family were in trying to get refunds and obviously they weren’t happy about the whole thing.
“There was nobody left in the car park at about 4.30pm, but there was a lone Ross County fan standing talking to someone who had come up from Glasgow.
“It’s things like that where you think ‘my God’. A bus load of Hibs fans were in the Mallard at the end of the road enjoying their afternoon.
“That’s the disappointing thing. It’s a big operation to be called off with three or four hours notice.”
