Who is out of contract at Ross County this season as the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership approaches its final week
Although Ross County still have business to take care of on the pitch before the end of the season, it will not be long before thoughts turn to what movements will be made in the summer.
The transfer window always brings a buzz of excitement as club across the world make their moves to try and improve for the new season, but all of their first ports of call will be deciding which members of their current squad to keep.
Some stars are due to see their contracts expire in a matter of weeks, raising question marks about where they will play their football next season.
With three matches left to play before that happens, here is a complete list – as confirmed by the club – of which Ross County stars will be free agents next month.
James Brown
One of the more regular players on this list, James Brown signed a two-year deal when he moved to Dingwall from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2023.
Since then, the Irishman has made 73 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals.
Alex Samuel
A deadline day signing in the summer 2021 transfer window, Alex Samuel has not had his challenges to seek since moving to Scotland.
A cruciate ligament injury in his first season saw him miss a year of action, but he would battle back into the side to play his part in keeping the Staggies in the top flight in that famous play-off win over Partick Thistle.
More highs and lows would come, including a loan spell at Highland rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but over his four years so far in Dingwall the Welshman has amassed 59 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice.
Ryan Leak
Central defender Ryan Leak is another on this list, two years after signing from Salford City.
He was close to an ever-present in his first 18 months in the Highlands, making 58 appearances, but has been sidelined since the new year with an Achilles injury.
When similarly serious injuries have occurred when a player’s contract has been running down at Ross County in the past, the Staggies have generally allowed the player to stay at the club until they regain fitness before making a later decision, as happened with the likes of Ben Paton.
Scott Allardice
The curious case of Scott Allardice. Having starred for years with Highland rivals Caley Thistle, injuries have again derailed what at times has looked like a very promising Staggies career.
Having only played 38 times in two years, Allardice has been absent as often as he has been available, and after picking up another knock at Kilmarnock a couple of weeks ago the question will be asked whether he has played his last game for Ross County.
George Robesten
Ross County’s unknown factor, Shetland product George Robesten has a burst of pace that sets him apart from most of his teammates, even if the 19-year-old is still raw.
He was trusted to start at Ibrox shortly after returning from loan at Brora Rangers in the first half of the season, and has made 12 competitive appearances so far for Ross County’s first team – but has he done enough to convince Don Cowie to hand him an extension?
Andrew Macleod
Often paired with Robesten due to the duo’s time out on loan together at Nairn County and Brora, Andrew Macleod featured in all four of Ross County’s League Cup group stage matches before returning to the first-team fold in January.
He is another who has seen injury impact his minutes lately, but the 20-year-old from Stornoway has always been spoken highly of by Staggies management.
Charlie Telfer
One of Ross County’s first signings of last summer’s transfer window following a starring spell at Airdrieonians, Charlie Telfer never really managed to force his way into the side, making just three starts in all competitions following a recruitment drive in the middle of the park last year.
Such was his place in the pecking order, the former Rangers and Dundee United youngster was allowed to leave Dingwall on loan in February, joining Hamilton Academical in their ultimately unsuccessful Championship campaign.
Logan Ross
Despite being part of the same crop of academy graduates as Adam Mackinnon and Matthew Wright, Logan Ross is still yet to make his senior Ross County debut.
As third-choice goalkeeper in recent seasons, it has been difficult to break through, but he has garnered plenty of experience through loan spells in League Two at Elgin City, and in the Highland League with Clachnacuddin, Brora Rangers, Lossiemouth, Huntly, Forres Mechanics and Nairn County.
Now 20 years old, though, he may be wondering if now is the time to become a club’s permanent number one, rather than continuing to switch between short-term moves.
Connall Ewan
This time last year, Connall Ewan was coming off the back of a successful loan spell at Elgin City in League Two and wondering how to take the next step in his development.
A temporary, if somewhat rare, arrangement was agreed with Inverness Caledonian Thistle that in theory should have seen Ewan progress up the ladder, but game time has been hard to come by in a turbulent season in the Highlands capital.
Ewan has only made seven appearances for an extremely young Caley Thistle squad that did manage to avoid relegation despite a 15-point penalty for going into administration, but his future will be up in the air this summer.
