Ross County's new Playing Kits

Ross County today unveiled their new Home and away playing kits for the coming season.

The kits are again manufactured by Nike and Highnet will continue to sponsor the club for a fourth consequtive season.

Highnet's Managing Director David Siegel was at the launch of the new strips.  Mr Siegel commented "I'm delighted that we have been able to continue our relationship with Ross County.  As a fan I'm really looking forward to the coming season with derek back at the helm and I'm sure the team will do the club - and the shirt - proud!"

The home strip is from Nike's "Victory Jersey" range, and keeps the traditional main colour of Navy Blue with a contrasting white chevron across the chest.
The design is described by Nike as "A tough match ready design, with a rib crew Neck"
In contrast to other seasons the shorts and socks are also mainly coloured Navy Blue with white flashes.

The away strip is also from Nike, this time from their "Striker II Jersey" range.
The top of the strip is mainly white with Red flashes running from the underarm area and down the sides of the front panel.
Additional red flashes are also visable along the top of the shoulder area.
This top also comes with a full collar.
The shorts for this strip are mainly red in coulr, with white flashes down either side.
The socks being mainly white, with red falshes near the top.

A limited number of the Navy Blue home strip will be available to purcahse at the JLS Concert on Saturday 2nd July, and then on general sale from Monday 4th July from either in person at Victoria Park, or via the on-line Shop.

Pictures along with David Siegel,Highnet Managing Director (centre right), and his son David, Director of Highnet (Centre left) at the launch of the new strip are Ross County players. Scott Morrison, Russell Duncan, Paul lawson, Richard Brittain, Colin McMenamin and Gary Miller.


To purcashe the new strip on line (from 4th July 2011) - Shop at the Ross County On-Line Store

For more information on Highnet - Please visit www.highnet.com/

Derek Adams Gets Four Match Suspension

Ross County's returning manager Derek Adams will be forced to sit in the stand for his first four matches in charge after the SFA's Appeals Board upheld a suspension impossed while he was assistant manager at Hibernian earlier this year - The initial suspension was for six matches, however this was reduced to four at the appeal hearing.

Derek Adams was ordered to the stand by Alan Muir on the advice of fourth official Kevin Clancy for what was described as foul and abusive language towards the referee, during Hibernian's 2-0 defeat to Motherwell at Fir Park on 22nd January.

This means that Adams will be sat in the stand for the Ramsden's Challenge Cup Matches against Elgin City, the Scottish Cummunities League Cup match against Queens Park, the opening league fixture at home to Morton, plus either the Second roud tie of the Ramsdens cup or the following league fixture away to Hamilton.

A statement released on the SFA's official site read :

"The Scottish FA Appeals Board has today upheld, in part, the appeal by Derek Adams, manager of Ross County Football Club, in regard to the six-match suspension imposed on him by the Disciplinary Committee at its meeting on 12 April.

He will now serve a four-match suspension from the technical area commencing seven days from today. The suspension applies to competitive matches only.

The original sanction was imposed after Adams was removed from the technical area during a Scottish Premier League match between Motherwell and Hibernian at Fir Park on 22 January when he was assistant manager at Hibernian.

He appeared before the Disciplinary Committee in April following his fourth misconduct report within the determining period."

Fans Meeting

Ross County fans will, on Monday night, have the chance to hear what Ross County's plan are for the season ahead at an open meeting.
Club Chairman Roy MacGregor and club manager Derek Adams will be in attendance where they will outline the clubs plans for the season ahead, while also available to take questions from fans.

The meeting is open to all Ross County fans who wish to attend, and shall be held in the Ross Suite at 7.30pm on Monday 27th June.

Pre-Season Re-Scheduled

Ross County have added a fifth game to their pre-season schedule, and will mow travel to face Kilmarnock at Rugby park on Saturday 16th July - Kick-off 3pm.
The last time the two teams met was int he Ennstone Thistle pre-season tournament at Elgin when Ross County beat Kilmarnock 1-0 in the final - Sean Higgins scoring a late header.
The only other competative fixture betweent he two teams was int he Scottish Cup in 1963, when Kilmarnock won the game at Rugby Park 7-0.

A further change to the pre-season schedule is that the game against Nairn County on 9th July has been cancelled.  However a replacement game against Forres Mechanics two days earlier (Thursday 7th July) has now been arranged.

The full pre-season fixture list is now as follows.

Saturday 2nd July (2pm) - Brora Rangers - Dudgeon Park, Brora
Tuesday 5th July (7.30pm) - Clachnacuddin - Grant Street, Inverness
Thursday 7th July (7.30pm) - Forres Mech. - Mosset Park, Forres
Tuesday 12th July (7.30pm) - Kieth - Kynoch Park, Kieth
Saturday 16th July (3pm) - Kilmarnock - Rugby Park, Kilmarnock.

Pre-Season Training Begins

The Ross County first team squad began pre-season triaing on Monday as the returning manager Derek Adams re-acquaited himself with many of the existing squad, while at the same time introducing the seven summer signings to the squad and teh facilities in and around Victoria Park.

The seven new signings - Grant Munro, Colin McMenamin, Kurtis Byrne, Michael Fraser, Russell Duncan, Sam Morrow and Rocco Quinn - were also all paraded before the waiting media who were invited along to Victoria Park to photograph and interview the new players on the first day of training.

The players will now join the rest of the squad for the hard graft that is pre-season training, as well as a series of pre-season friendlies - The first of these which is against Brora Rangers on Saturday 2nd July at Brora's Dudgedon Park.

Supporters Club AGM

The Inverness Ross County Independent Supporters Club Annual General Meeting is to take place within the meeting rooms at the Crown Court Hotel in Inverness, on Sunday 10th July 2011 at 2pm.

New members are welcome to attend as the club prepare for what promises to be an exciting season ahead for Ross County.

For more information on the Inverness Ross County Independant Supports Club, please visit their website, by clicking HERE

Staggies Seventh Summer Signing

Ross County continued thier summer signing spree today when they announced that midfielder Rocco Quinn is the seventh player to sign for the Staggies this summer.
The 25-year-old midfielder has signed a 2 year deal with the club.

Speaking after the news was announced County's manager Derek Adams commented " Rocco can play anywhere across the midfield area. He was a consistent performer over the last couple of seasons with Queen of the South. He is capable of creating and scoring goals from midfield".

Rocco Quinn started his career at Celtic, but failed to break into the first team. During his time at Celtic Park, he had loan spells to Kilmarnock - where he earned a runners up medal in the CIS League Cup. A further two loan spells at St. Johnstone and Livingston.
During this period he also earned five caps for Scotland at Under 21 level.

In 2009, he left Celtic and signed for Queen of the South, where he became a first team regular.

Quinn will join the other six summer signings when they meet they meet the rest of the County squad when pre-season training begins on Monday.

Another Day Another Signing

Ross County have today made their sixth signing of the summer, by signing the 26-year-old forward Sam Morrow.

Former Northern Irish U21 International Sam Morrow has signed a 2 year contract. The 26 year old in the past played for Hibernian, Livingston, Derry City and Tranmere Rovers.
Derek Adams commented about Ross County's sixth summer signing. " Sammy will add strength and pace to our strike force. He will link well with the other centre forwards and provide excellent options in the forward positions".

Sam Morrow's career began when he signed for Ipswich Town as an 18-year-old, but after a year at the club he failed to break into the first team at Portman Road, although it did include a loan spell at Boston Utd. He left Ipswich in 2004, but was signed by former Ipswich coach Tony Mowbray when he took over at Hibernian.
During his three years at Hibs, he made 40 apperances, many of which were from the substitutes bench.  He tallied a total of 3 goals in that spell.
After leaving hibs he had brief spells at both Livingston and Partick Thistle playing in the first division, before he left to sign for his home town Derry City in the Irish League.
He proved very effective with the Irish League outfit, but he left when Derry City were relegated due to Financial Iregularities, and signed for Tranmere Rovers.
However things didn't work out at Tranmere and he was released at the end of last season.

County sign two more

Ross County's have added two further signings with the additions of midfielder Russell Duncan and Striker Kurtis Byrne.


30-year-old Russell Duncan signed a 2 year deal with County and makes the short move from the other side of the Kessock Bridge, becoming the third former Inverness CT player to join County during this summer's close season.


Speaking about Russell Duncan, Ross County manager Derek Adams said "Russell will add experience to the squad and complement the players we have in the midfield already. He will bring an aggressive approach but also provide composure and excellent game knowledge to the central area".


Duncan started his career at Aberdeen, but he failed to break into the first team at Pittodrie, and had to settle
for loan spells at both Elgin City and Forfar Athletic.  But in 2001, he signed for Inverness CT, where he went onto play nearly 300 games, winning the First Division twice, as well as the Challenge Cup in 2004.

Kurtis Byrne is known to Derek Adams as the pair were at Hibernian last season.  Speaking about Kurtis, Adams said
"Kurtis Byrne arrives from Hibernian where he was a prolific goal scorer in the youth and reserve teams. He is quick, likes to make intelligent runs between central defenders and has a terrific ability to score goals. He is a youthful addition to our squad and will take a bit of time to develop into a regular in the starting eleven".
The 21-year-old striker, from Dublin,  started his youth career at Norwich City, before moving North to Hibernian.  He was part of the Hibs U19's team which won the league and cup double in season 2008/09, which earned him a first team contract the follwoing season.
But he struggled to break into the first team, due to the likes of Anthony Stokes being picked ahead of him, and in order to get first team football he went to Stirling Albion on loan.
Last season though he did break into the Hibs first team, and made six apperances for them, before again headin out on loan to East Fife, where he scored 6 goals in the 14 games he played during the first half of the season.
He again returned to Hibs before going on loan to Second Division strugglers Alloa for a month, where he played six times.

Kurtis Byrne was the seocnd player announced as signing for Ross County today.

Important Dates for Season 2011/12

This Friday (17th June) is one of the more eagerly awaited days during the close season, as it's when the following seasons League Fixtures will be announced (9am)
We already know that Ross County will open the competative season with a hame fixture against Elgin City on Saturday 23rd July, with Queens Park visiting Victoria Park the following week for the Scottish Cummunities Cup.  The first of the league fixtures will be the follwoing Satuday (6th August), with the last of the league games being on Saturday 5th May 2012.

Also after the postponment of last season's Challenge Cup Final and it being moved to April, seemed to be a success, which has resulted in the SFL changing it again to April for this coming season.

Other important dates for the season ahead are :-

July 2011

Sat. 23rd - Ross County v Elgin City - Ramsdens Cup 1st Round : SPL League begins.
Sat. 30th – Ross County v Queens Park - Scottish Communities League Cup 1st Round
August 2011
Sat. 6th - IRN-BRU SFL First, Second and Third Leagues begin
Tues. 9th/10th – Ramsdens Cup 2nd Round
Wed. 10th – Scotland v Denmark – International Challenge Match
Tue. 23rd/24th - Scottish Communities League Cup 2nd Round

September 2011
Sat. 3rd – Scotland v Czech Republic - Euro Qualifier
Sun. 4th - Ramsdens Cup 3rd Round
Mon. 5th – Scotland U'21 v Bulgaria U'21
Tue. 6th - Scotland v Lithuania - Euro Cup Qualifier
Tue. 20th/21st - Scottish Communities League Cup 3rd Round
Sat. 24th - Scottish Cup 1st Round

October 2011
Thur. 6th - Luxembourg U'21 v Scotland U'21
Sat. 8th – Liechstenstein v Scotland - Euro Qualifier
Sun. 9th - Ramsdens Cup Semi-Finals
Mon. 10th - Scotland U'21 v Austria U'21
Tues. 11th – Spain v Scotland - Euro Cup Qualifier
Sat. 22nd - Scottish Cup 2nd Round
Tue. 25th/26th - Scottish Communities League Cup 4th Round

November 2011
Tue. 8th – 15th Euro Cup Qualifier Play-offs
Mon. 14th - Netherlands U'21 v Scotland U'21
Sat. 19th - Scottish Cup 3rd Round  (Ross County enter the competition at this stage)
January 2012
Sat. 7th - Scottish Cup 4th Round
Sat. 28th/29th - Scottish Communities League Cup Semi-Finals

February 2012
Sat. 4th - Scottish Cup 5th Round
Tue. 28th - Scotland U'21 v Austria U'21

March 2012
Sat. 10th - Scottish Cup Quarter Finals
Sun. 18th - Scottish Communities League Cup Final

April 2012
Sun. 1st or 8th - Ramsdens Cup Final (to be confirmed)
Sat. 14th/15th - Scottish Cup Semi Finals

May 2012
Sat. 5th - IRN-BRU First, Second and Third Division Leagues end
Wed. 9th - SFL Play-offs Semi Finals 1st Leg
Wed. 9th - Europa League final (Bucharest)
Sat. 12th - SFL Play-offs Semi Finals 2nd Leg
Wed. 16th - SFL Play-offs Finals 1st Leg
Sat. 19th - Scottish Cup Final
Sat. 19th - Champions League Final (Munich)
Sun. 20th - SFL Play-offs Finals 2nd Leg

June 2012
8th June to 1st July – UEFA European Championships 2012

Michael Fraser Signs for the Staggies

Ross County have signed goalkeeper Michael Fraser on a 1 deal.

Speaking after his signing manager Derek Adams said "Michael has made close to 100 appearances in the SPL and has experience of playing abroad. He is now moving back home and is looking forward to joining Ross County. He is the third new signing of the summer and I hope to add more players to the squad over the coming weeks".

The 28-year-old, originally from Drumnadrochit, will be a familiar face to County fans, due to him lining up against the Staggies on several occasions while a players for Inverness CT.
A former shinty player, he decided to change sport and joined Inverness, he made the breakthrough into the first team at Caley in 2007, where he stayed as the first choice keeper for almost 2 seasons.
In 2009 after his contract expired at Caley, A few months earlier he had signed a pre-contract agreement with Motherwell, who he joined at the start of season 2009/10.

Although making his debut for Motherwell in the UEFA Europa League qualifier against Welsh team Llanelli.
However the arrival of John Ruddy, and then Darren Randolph at Fir Park, saw Michael Fraser drop to the bench and appearances for the Steelmen were limited.


At the start of season 2010/11, he was released by Motherwell and played as a trialist for Montrose in the Third Division for one game. But Montrose were unable to give him full time football, so the two parted company.
He did however find full time football with Maltese side Birkirkara after impressing the coaches in a series of friendly matches, and registered in October 2010 where he signed a contract until the end of the season.


From October to May he featured in 15 of the 28 matches that Birkirkara played. But after winning the Maltese league in season 2009/10, Birkirkara could only finish 3rd in the Premier League last season.


Michael Fraser becomes the third signing of the summer for Ross County, after defender Grant Munro and forward Colin McMenamin who joined at the end of May.

Adams Further Strengthens his Back Room Staff

Derek Adams only returned from his summer break on Tuesday, and after quickly appointing Stuart Balmer as his assistant, Adams has moved quickly to further strengthen his back room staff, by re-appointing Stuart Miller and Ian McKinnon to the roles they previously held under Derek Adams' last reign as manager.


Stuart Millar returns to his role as Chief Scout after working at Aberdeen FC under Craig Brown as part of their Opposition Analysis Team. He will take up his previous role of watching Ross County's next opponents and providing analysis to the Manager. Derek said -

"I am delighted to welcome Stuart back to the club where he worked successfully for 2 seasons. He has a crucial role in our preparations for our next game" 

Ian Mackinnon also returns to his role as Matchday Video Analysis where he worked before under Manager Derek Adams.

"Ian’s role is to provide me with match and player analysis of our team. This comes via video and a technical computer software programme"

Stuart Balmer Returns as Assistant

It has been announced that Stuart Balmer will return to Ross County as manager Derek Adams Assistant.

Derek Adams said in a statement released a short time ago
Stuart Balmer was first appointed Assistant manager during Willie MacStay's short stint as manager of the club, but remained at the club after the sacking of McStay in March where he worked as first team coach during Jimmy Calderwood's reign as manager.
It was rumoured a couple of weeks ago that all the coaching staff at the club had been released - this seemed confirmed yesterday with the confirmation that former youth coach Davie Kirkwood has been appointed manager of Wick Academy - but this news confirms that Stuart Balmer will return as assistant manager, when the first team squad return for pre-season training on the 20th June.

“I am delighted Stuart has agreed to join my backroom team. He is familiar with the squad after working here for the past 6 months and he brings a good work ethic and provides stability to the football club”.

County Fans Meeting

Ross County fans are to be given the chance to see the clubs plans for the forthcoming season at a top-level meeting on June 27th when Chairman Roy MacGregor and Manager Derek Adams will be in attendance.

A press release from the football club earlier today read :

Ross County Football have announced that fans will be given an insight into the Clubs plans for the season ahead at an open meeting with the Chairman and Manager, Roy MacGregor and Derek Adams, on Monday the 27th of June.
The meeting will be held at the Ross Suite at Victoria Park stadium starting at 19:30 and is open to all fans to attend.

By the time the meeting comes around the first team squad will have returned to pre-season training, with the first pre-season friendly (Away to Brora Rangers) five days later.

Ramsdens Challenge Cup - First Round Draw

Ross County have been handed a home tie against Elgin City in the First Round of the Re-branded Ramsdens Challenge Cup.
County entered the draw as holders of the cup following the win over Queen of the South in April’s final. Last season’s successful cup campaign also began with a first round tie against Elgin City, albeit last year at Boroughbriggs.

This years Fixture will take place at Victoria Park, Dingwall on 23rd July.

The draw as usual in the early stages with the Challenge Cup is regionalised. The full draw is as follows :-

North/East

Brechin City -v- Falkirk
Raith Rovers -v- Cowdenbeath
Forfar Athletic -v- Buckie Thistle
Peterhead -v- Alloa Athletic
Ross County -v- Elgin City
Montrose -v- East Fife
Deveronvale -v- Stirling Albion
Arbroath -v- Dundee
South /West

Clyde -v- Berwick Rangers
Airdrie United -v- Livingston
Partick Thistle -v- Stenhousemuir
Ayr United -v- Queen of the South
Stranraer -v- Morton
Dumbarton -v- East Stirlingshire
Queen's Park -v- Hamilton Academical
Albion Rovers -v- Annan Athletic

The competition will be known as the Ramsdens Challenge Cup after the company entered into an initial one year deal with the Scottish Football League.
Along with the announcement of the new sponsors, the SFL have also announced that two new teams – Buckie Thistle and Deveronvale, who finished as winners and runners-up of the Highland League last season – will participate in this years competition. This invitation demonstrates the SFL’s commitment to supporting the SFA’s club licensing process and furthermore underlines the SFL’s willingness to look at Scottish Football as a whole.

Scottish Communities league Cup Draw

Ross County have been handed a home draw against Queens park in the Scottish Communities League Cup, when the draw was made this afternoon by First Minister Alex Salmond at The Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell.

The full draw for the 1st Round is as follows :

Queen of the South v Stranraer

Annan Athletic v Dunfermline Athletic
Partick Thistle v Berwick Rangers
Dumbarton v Dundee
Brechin City v Clyde
Montrose v Raith Rovers
Livingston v Arbroath
Albion Rovers v Falkirk
Forfar Athletic v Peterhead
Alloa Athletic v Morton
Cowdenbeath v Stenhousemuir
Airdrie United v Stirling Albion
East Fife v Elgin City
East Stirlingshire v Ayr United
Ross County v Queen's Park

All ties will be played on Saturday 30th July.

The Scottish Communities League Cup is the new title of last season's Co-Operative League Cup.  

The sponsorship package is made up from cash which has been seized from criminals to encourage positive behaviour and stronger communities, promoting respect, responsibility and tolerance to football fans and families throughout Scotland.
It is part of a package of measures building on the commitment made at the Football Summit in March and the ongoing work of the Joint Action Group to expand existing community work and back clubs, authorities, and police in tackling unacceptable behaviour.


The £1 million Communities League Cup sponsorship scheme will link SFL clubs to their local communities and supports the role clubs can play in encouraging physical activity, opening up their facilities and through Active Schools and Cashback programmes, as well as promoting positive role models and community ambassadors.