How did Ross County rebuild to bounce back from Premiership relegation in 2018 to win the Championship at the first time of asking? A look back at the Staggies’ summer transfer window seven years ago
Ross County bounced straight back up to the Premiership at the first time of asking in the 2018/19 season.
There was a similar feeling around Dingwall seven years ago compared to now. Back then, a draw at St Johnstone on the final day of the Premiership season condemned the Staggies to automatic relegation.
A summer rebuild, it quickly became apparent, was necessary to get the club back into the top flight.
Under the guidance of co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson, who had been named permanent managers during the split after initially being placed in caretaker charge following Owen Coyle’s exit, business was done quickly.
Two players had been signed before the calendar was even turned to June, but a strong of departures were also confirmed.
To put into scale the rebuilding job required, here are the players who left Dingwall permanently in the summer of 2018.
With a full squad leaving, a similar number had to come in.
Kettlewell and Ferguson targeted a mix of potential and experience, trying to strike the right balance to return County to the promised land of the Premiership.
Here are all the players who joined County in the summer of 2018.
More changes would follow in the winter transfer window. Ryan Dow would head out the exit door having already spent time out on loan at Peterhead, with Dylan Dykes and Tony Dingwall’s departures also confirmed.
As far as incomings went, Kenny van der Weg was another who came back to Dingwall for another spell following the departure of Demetriou, signing on the same day as energetic midfielder Lewis Spence.
Defender Callum Semple would then be added to the ranks later in January, on the same day as Daniel Armstrong.
