Don Cowie keen to ‘instil belief’ in Ross County squad during spell in charge

Don Cowie feels he can use his long-standing relationships with Ross County players to continue instilling belief in the team.

Cowie led County to their first victory in 12 matches when they beat Livingston 3-2 on Saturday thanks to Josh Sims’ stoppage-time strike.

The 41-year-old was promoted on an interim basis after the resignation of Derek Adams, whose third spell in charge proved an unhappy one.

After taking seven points from his first three matches, Adams only collected two from his next eight and suffered a 3-0 defeat to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

Adams’ relationship with his players took a nosedive early on when he launched a scathing attack on the standard of the cinch Premiership and claimed his Morecambe team were 100 times better than the side he inherited from Malky Mackay.

Adams later admitted he might have had second thoughts on returning to Dingwall if he had done more research and painted a bleak picture of the club.

The inevitable parting of ways followed a 5-0 defeat at Motherwell and Cowie is trying to restore confidence.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s Premiership home clash with St Mirren, Cowie told Sky Sports: “It’s a slightly different role. Naturally I have had to adapt.

“I think my role as assistant manager has enabled me to build up relationships with the players, and I have got to see that as a positive, and use it.

“I’m really enjoying it. It’s a great group of players I have got, very receptive, working very hard on the training ground, and it’s just about instilling the belief in them.

“I have seen them over a period of time, the last two-and-a-half years, I know what they are capable of, but it’s about striving for that consistency.”