Ross County restructure Don Cowie’s backroom team following relegation

Ross County are keeping faith with Don Cowie after “a lot of soul-searching” following their relegation from the William Hill Premiership.

The Staggies, however, have announced a “restructure” of the 42-year-old manager’s backroom team after their six-year stay in the top flight was ended last Monday when they lost 5-3 on aggregate to Livingston in the play-off final.

The Dingwall club have turned to 60-year-old former Hearts player and manager John Robertson, who had a short spell in charge of County in 2005, to become number two to Cowie, with previous assistants Carl Tremarco and Paul Cowie – Don’s brother – leaving the club.

“As you might imagine, we have done a lot of soul-searching at the club over the last week, and following that, have decided to restructure our football management team under Don Cowie as we make gaining immediate promotion our sole focus,” read a County statement on Monday.

“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.

“To support Don, we have appointed the experienced John Robertson as assistant manager with immediate effect. Carl Tremarco and Paul Cowie will leave the club, and we thank them for their efforts and wish them well for the future.

“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.”