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Ross County have signed two Inverness Caledonian Thistle players on loan until the end of the season. The two strikers will be expected to boost Ross County’s fire power which has dampened in recent matches.
County beat the transfer deadline to secure the services of striker David Ross and winger Wayne Addicoat and both are expected to make their debuts in the make-or-break match with Alloa at the weekend.
Neale Cooper, the County manager, said that he had been combing Scottish football at every level to try to freshen up his first team squad but had been unable to sign anyone.
Cooper feels that Ross and Addicoat will do a good job for County in the short term. There is a possibility that the moves may become permanent if the players meet the Dingwall side’s requirements.
David Ross is a local man from Sutherland. He played for Brora Rangers before signing for Inverness Caley Thistle. Wayne Addicoat is a speedy if unpredictable winger who is a good finisher.
DRM 1 April 1998
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With five matches to go, Ross County boss Neale Cooper needs a victory when they visit the Third Division leaders, Alloa Athletic, this afternoon.
Cooper says, "We know that it will be hard but we have not given up hope of promotion as there are still 15 points available.
"We will not give up until it becomes mathematically impossible. That is what we are telling the players. This is one of the biggest games of the season for us and we know that we have to do better against them this time round."
Recent signings from Inverness Caley Thistle, Addicoat and Ross will make their debuts today.
Addicoat said, "Every team in this division is capable of beating each other and even though Alloa have won the previous three encounters this season we hope to do better this time round. I want to repay the boss’s faith in me with a couple of goals."
Billy Ferries, Paul Bradshaw and Alex Taylor are missing because of injury, while Stuart Golabek and Richard Hart have ‘flu. Kenny Gilbert misses the game through suspension.
DRM 4 April 1998
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Ross County’s Third Division promotion hopes were blown well off course on a wet and blustery day at Alloa last Saturday.
County could only manage a 1-1 draw but their optimistic manager Neale Cooper believes that County are still in with a shout for promotion.
Cooper said, "We will never give up until it is mathematically impossible. The three points would have been great for us but we will be working hard to pick up all the points against Albion Rovers next Saturday.
"We have to play Arbroath yet and we have to win that one and all the other games right through to the end of the season."
Cooper was pleased with the performances of the two ex-Inverness Caley Thistle players.
"Young Addicoat did well for us as he hasn’t played for some weeks. I thought that Ross was superb and he gave us another dimension in attack," Cooper added.
Just as they did last season, Ross County did not do well against the team likely to be the league champions. It cost them dearly last season so Cooper must be wondering if history will repeat itself.
DRM 6 April 1998
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Ross County have freed midfielder Gerry Farrell by mutual consent. Farrell is known to be wanting a move to be closer to his family and he was linked with a move to Clyde earlier in the season.
Farrell said, "All I can say is that I left the club through mutual consent. I’ve been at Ross County for two years and I think that the club have done well in that time.
"I’m disappointed to have to leave but I feel that now is the time to move on. A lot has been made about me being separated from my family but I could have seen myself staying up here for a bit longer.
"I live in the club house with a crowd of other full-time players and we have got on relly well together. The fans have been good to me and I feel sorry that I have not been able to say a proper goodbye to them."
County manager Neale Cooper said that the development was due to personal reasons and the player’s part.
He said, "Gerry was feeling homesick because of the long time he was spending away from his home. He wanted a move back to nearer his home and we have agreed to that.
"It’s a blow to the club at this stage of the season, as we are chasing promotion, but we have the players to fill the gap."
DRM 11 April 1998
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Ross County assistant manager Jim Kelly was up-beat about County’s chances in Saturday’s make-or-break match against Arbroath.
Kelly said, "The players know exactly what is expected from them on Saturday. If we win then we are only two points adrift of Arbroath.
"We have not been conceding goals and the last two goals against have come from the penalty spot. ‘Keeper Nicky Walker does a good job organising the defence in front of him."
County have two injury worries. Davie Ross has a leg knock and Mark Haro has a calf injury. However, Kenny Gilbert should return after suspension.
A big crowd is expected at Victoria Park, and with three of their four remaining matches to be played in Dingwall, the vocal support of the County fans could be crucial if the side is to gain the runners’ up spot and promotion.
DRM 14 April 1998
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Ross County face Arbroath in a crunch match at Victoria Park, Dingwall this afternoon. Manager Neale Cooper is very much aware of the significance of this match as he recognises that anything other than a win today will probably mean another season in the Bell's Third Division for his team.
County trail Arbroath by five points going into this match so even if County do win today they will still be relying on Arbroath to slip up again. With four games to go that is becoming more unlikely.
Cooper said, "This is our last chance. If Arbroath win they will go eight points clear of us."
Ross County were the pre-season favourites to win the Third Division but hey have drawn too many games - a feature that Cooper is well aware.
"The problem is that we have drawn too many games this season, possibly more than any other team in the league. You lose too many points that way, " he added.
"We now have to show our battling and finishing skills. We know we can do this but we have been too inconsistent this season."
County have several injury worries for this crucial game. Recent signings David Ross and Wayne Addicoat are doubtful with thigh and pelvic injuries respectively. Stuart Golabek and Roy McBain are also struggling with a virus and groin strain respectively. On the plus side, County welcome back Kenny Gilbert who returns to the squad after serving a suspension.
DRM 18 April 1998
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Alex Taylor breathed life into Ross County’s promotion bid when he struck the winning goal in last Saturday’s home win over promotion rivals Arbroath.
Taylor said, "It looked as if we were heading for a no scoring draw and I thought that it was going to be one of those days.
"Arbroath were getting smug about it and a few comments were made, which was a wee bit annoying, so it was good to get the goal.
"We still need snookers and must win all our games and hope that Arbroath slip up," conceded Taylor. " We’ll have our work cut out to overhaul them but we have given ourselves a half chance. The clubs Arbroath still have to play have incentives of their own and no-one will be lying down.
"East Stirling are still in with a shout themselves and there is no love lost between Arbroath and Montrose, who love to beat them at any time. Albion Rovers are a decent side and perhaps have not had the rewards some of their play deserved."
The biggest Third Division crowd of the season (1,843) was a Victoria Park last Saturday.
County boss Neale Cooper was delighted that Alex Taylor scored the goal. " For the last couple of weeks he has been outstanding," Cooper said.
After the match, X-rays revealed that County defender Willie Furphy carried off at the end of the first half has sustained ankle ligament damage and not the fracture that was feared.
DRM 19 April 1998
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Although Ross County may miss out on promotion to Division Two this season, Roy McGregor, Ross County’s chief executive, stated this week that there was no pressure on the board of directors, nor by the board on the manager Neale Cooper.
Cooper, who had taken up the role two years ago, has another year of his three year contract to run and the board believe that he is learning quickly from his experiences.
Should the club not gain promotion, Roy McGregor said that the board would sit back and take a calm and objective look at why they had not succeeded. Everyone was aware that County’s biggest problem over the past season has not been quality or lack of ambition, but inconsistency on the park.
Neale Cooper will have another season to take County out of the Third Division.
With reference to the recent share issue, Roy McGregor said that at present the board is waiting for the final figures on the issue, which had been aimed at raising around six hundred thousand pounds to clear the capital debt on recent stadium redevelopment work at Victoria Park.
Roy McGregor said that initial indications from the bank suggested that they had fallen slightly short of their target, but that the shortfall was nothing they could not cope with.
The minimum investment level had been set at two hundred and fifty pounds, a figure which the board acknowledges put the shares out of the reach of some supporters. In the light of this, they were now inviting applications from anybody wanting packages of fifty, a hundred or one hundred and fifty pounds.
Any fans wishing to participate in the share issue should contact the club direct.
DRM 24 April 1998
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Two Ross County players have been nominated for the Bell’s Third Division Players’ Player of the Year.
They are the club’s leading goal scorer Derek Adams and ex-midfielder Gerry Farrell. Farrell recently received a free transfer.
DRM 24 April 1998
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County manager Neale Cooper has told his players that they must build on last Saturday’s win in order to keep their promotion hopes alive. Cooper warned his players to expect a tough match in the Third Division clash with Cowdenbeath in Dingwall.
"There is no point in us beating the teams at the top of the league one week and then throwing away the points the following week. We must win our three remaining games and hope that Arbroath slip up somewhere," he said.
"The important fact is that we are still in there and we must keep going from now until the end of the season. The players must battle and show a positive attitude in the remaining games."
The lack of goals has been a major concern for the manager in recent weeks and Cooper believes that too much of the responsibility has been placed on the strikers.
"I have been pleased by the some of the performances of our strikers and Derek Adams in particular has scored a lot of goals for us. But there has not been enough goals from the midfield."
Cooper believes that his defenders have also played particularly well but he is very concerned about the number of drawn matches that County have played in as this has cost his side a lot of valuable points.
"I'm expecting a difficult game today despite already beating them three times this season, as Craig Levein has brought in a number of new players since our last game."
For today’s game, Dave Matheson is ruled out through suspension and Wayne Addicoat is injured. On the plus side Dave Ross is expected to be fit and to play.
DRM 25 April 1998
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