Robertson returns as County stick with manager Cowie

Don Cowie is to remain as Ross County manager following relegation from the Scottish Premiership, while former boss John Robertson has been added to the coaching staff.

Robertson, 60, had a four-month stint in charge of the Dingwall side in 2005 and has also managed Hearts, Livingston and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Coaches Carl Tremarco and Paul Cowie have been removed to make way for Robertson’s return.

“We believe strongly that we have a dedicated and talented manager in Don and that he is the right man to lead us for the season ahead,” said chief executive Steven Ferguson.

“To support Don, we have appointed the experienced John Robertson as assistant manager with immediate effect.

“John has more than 400 games under his belt as a manager, knows the challenge of recruiting from our base in the Highlands, has experience of the Scottish Championship, and has worked with Don in the past.

“He already knows the club well and has spent much of last season watching from the sidelines in his role as a BBC pundit.

“Everyone at the club is determined to put us in the best position possible to gain promotion back into the Premiership – and to do so within a season. Bringing John in to support Don, will allow us to reshape the playing squad and turn things around as quickly as possible.”

County dropped into the second tier after finishing 11th for the third successive year and then losing to Livingston in the play-off final.

The Staggies bounced straight back as Championship winners when they last suffered relegation from the top flight in 2018.