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Ambitious Third Division champions Ross County have beaten relegated Dunfermline Athletic and newly-promoted Hibernian to the signature of former Aberdeen, Dundee and Scotland defender Brian Irvine.
The inspirational 34-year-old is set to sign a three-year contract with the Dingwall club today.
The Press and Journal revealed that Ross County manager Neale Cooper had targeted the inspirational former Don on Monday, May 25.
Cooper sees him as the perfect defensive cornerstone for the Easter Ross club's bid to make a challenge for immediate promotion to the First Division next season.
He came close to persuading his former Pittodrie teammate to drop three divisions two years ago after Irvine was handed a free transfer by Aberdeen ending his 12-year spell with the Dons, but Dundee's counter-offer of Premier Division football saw Irvine choose Dens Park ahead of Victoria Park.
Undeterred, Cooper launched his second bid to land Irvine ten days ago, when it became clear the big defender intended to turn down the offer of a one-year contract with Dundee after helping the Dens Park club finish a highly-creditable fifth in last season's final SPL standings.
Irvine met Cooper and chairman Roy McGregor, with Dundee's permission, for outline discussions within days of captaining the Dark Blues in a 1-0 defeat by St Johnstone on the last day of the season and before his two-year Dens Park deal expired two days ago.
After those initial discussions, Irvine confirmed: "The manager gave me permission to speak to Ross County and their set-up impressed me.
"They are a progressive club who are determined to go forward. They are also talking in terms of a three-year contract which offers me extra security.
"But I'm not officially free to speak to clubs until my contract with Dundee runs out at the end of the month."
Dunfermline, who are aiming to bounce straight back to the Premier League next season, had offered Irvine a two-year deal at East End Park and Hibs manager Alex McLeish is understood to have offered Irvine a role in the Easter Road club's campaign to consolidate their position in the SPL next season.
The Press and Journal attempted to contact Irvine, who recently gained an SFA A coaching licence, yesterday for his comments on a report that new Dons manager Ebbe Skovdahl planned to offer him an emotional return to Pittodrie in a dual role as a standby first-team squad player with youth coaching duties.
Irvine was unavailable yesterday and it is understood he was in Dingwall with his family for final signing talks which will see him become the Third Division champions' biggest signing since they were elected to the Scottish League in 1995.
And when he signs later today, whole-hearted Irvine is guaranteed to become an instant hero with Ross County's fans, who gave him a warm welcome back to competitive football in October, 1995.
That was Irvine's first comeback game after he shrugged off the threat to his career which followed the news that he had contracted a mild form of multiple sclerosis.
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Ambitious Third Division champions Ross County sent out a clear signal to the rest of Scottish football that they mean business yesterday by succeeding where Dunfermline Athletic and Hibernian had failed to land ex-Aberdeen, Dundee and Scotland defender Brian Irvine on a three-year contract.
As the Press and Journal exclusively revealed yesterday (June 1), 34-year-old Irvine decided to join former Pittodrie clubmate Neale Cooper's ambitious Easter Ross club to grab an opportunity to put something back into the game he has graced as one of Scotland's most whole-hearted professionals for 15 years.
Irvine said: "I've turned down better offers financially from clubs at a higher level to come here and although I've stepped down, I firmly believe Ross County will progress in Scottish football and I intend to help them to do that.
"My wife and I battled all week with this decision and I'd like to thank the other clubs who expressed an interested in taking me, but I feel privileged and very thankful to Roy MacGregor for giving me the opportunity to come to Ross County.
"Neale Cooper and I go back a long way and I'm really looking forward to working under him here. I'll give everything I can in terms of experience and football know-how and, hopefully, pass on the attitudes and the way I do things and, ultimately, help Neale take the club another step forward."
County's new recruit set the record straight on reports that he was heading back to Pittodrie, adding: "If Aberdeen had made me an offer to get involved again at Pittodrie, anyone who knows me would know that I would've found it very hard to refuse. That was not the case - there was no concrete offer only an initial chat which didn't lead to anything. The story was pure speculation and I can only say that it was very unsettling."
Irvine, who resisted pressure to move his family to Tayside during his two-year spell with Dundee confirmed that he will move away from Aberdeen and settle in the Highlands - a commitment which delighted chairman Roy MacGregor.
MacGregor said: "It's another milestone for the club and it's a great opportunity for youngsters in the Highlands to come and see such a model professional."
County manager Cooper added: "We have to make sure that we have the right pedigree of player to go into the Second Division. He'll bring leadership, power, strength and aerial presence to our side."
County yesterday also signed former Celtic youth striker Gary Nicol, 18, and 17-year-old Scottish youth international keeper Gary Hamilton from St Mirren.
County's former Aberdeen and Scotland keeper Nicky Walker was delighted that former Pittodrie teammate Irvine will be sharing the Victoria Park dressingroom with him next season. Walker said: "This is great news. The big man is an absolute gem and one of the real gentlemen in Scottish football.
"Brian Irvine is exactly what we need at the heart of the County defence. He's a real star in the air and there's no doubt he'll be a great role model for the youngsters in the area.
"It's a wonderful signing and I'm really looking forward to playing behind him.
"I think it's a mark of how professional the club has become that this is the type of quality player they're targeting."
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Ross County last night signed former Hamilton Accies striker Michael Geraghty on a two-year, full-time contract.
The 28-year-old joined homeless Hamilton three seasons ago from East Stirling having previously played for Stranraer and Kilmarnock.
County chief executive Alastair Kennedy was pleased to capture the free agent.
He said: "We're delighted to tie up someone with his experience and quality. He's come highly recommended to us and having lost two superb strikers in Derek Adams and Neil Tarrant, who have joined Motherwell and Aston Villa respectively, we've made no secret that we were looking at one if not two quality strikers."
Geraghty is equally delighted to be part of the Victoria Park set-up.
He said: "I came up to Dingwall for a look at the facilities and was extremely impressed by everything I saw at this ambitious club.
"I'm very pleased to get the chance of full-time football and to play in front of such big crowds at Dingwall."
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Ross County left-sided utility player Stuart Golabek, 24, has signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle on a two-year contract for no fee under the Bosman ruling.
Caley Jags boss Steve Paterson said: "Stuart has an aggressive and direct style of play which will certainly strengthen us on the left side of the park.
"He's hungry and wants to do well. he is an Inverness lad who wanted to join us despite, I believe, having been offered a new contract by County.
"He will give me various options, especially in games away from home. For example, he could go to left back and allow me to pull Richard Hastings into midfield."
Paterson added: "I saw Ross County's League Cup tie against Hearts at Tynecastle and the Scottish Cup game against Clydebank at Dingwall and thought that Golabek was man of the match in both games."
Meanwhile, County have freed central defenders Willie Furphy and Billy Herd as they prepare for life in the Second Division.
Both players have struggled to claim places with Ian Maxwell and Mark Haro performing well towards the end of the season.
County landed Dundee defender Craig Tully towards the end of last season and further strengthened their squad with the plum capture of former Aberdeen and Scotland central defender Brian Irvine, giving the Dingwall outfit more than adequate cover at the back.
Manager Neale Cooper said: "Willie and Billy have both been great servants to Ross County. Billy Herd couldn't get back into the squad as the other lads were doing so well and work commitments also kept him out of contention on occasion.
"Willie Furphy had one or two injury problems last term but he would always turn up with a great attitude."
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Ross County's ambitious push for immediate promotion to the First Division received a massive boost last night when central defender Ian Maxwell revealed he has decided to go full time.
The 24-year-old Glasgow- based surveyor was an ever-present in County's championship- winning side last term and boss Neale Cooper is delighted that he has put pen to paper on a two-year, full-time contract, especially as other clubs, including Partick Thistle, had been tracking him.
"Ian had a tremendous first season with us and interest had been shown in him from other clubs. He had a good job with the water board in the south but we're delighted he has decided to accept our offer of full-time football.
"He gets married in a couple of weeks and has already been house hunting in the area and will move north and set up home here in the Highlands on his return from honeymoon."
Maxwell said: "I needed a little time to consider my position, but the ambitions of the club, and the tremendous support we have, made the decision easy for me.
"The facilities at Victoria Park are tremendous and I can't wait until the start of the season."
Ross County chief executive Alistair Kennedy hinted that further signings could be on the way to Victoria Park before the start of the season.
Kennedy said: "Our squad has been strengthened in key positions with a view to us having strength in depth to, hopefully, make a challenge for promotion in a new division for us.
"We are under no illusions that Division 2 will be a hard league and we need to equip ourselves with the calibre of player to challenge at that level.
"We have signed players that combine both youth and experience and we might just need another one or so to complete a squad we feel capable of playing the type of attractive football Neale Cooper and our supporters demand."
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A Scottish Premier League side and two First Division clubs have been lined up for pre-season friendlies at Victoria Park.
The players will gather for the opening day of pre-season training on Monday, June 28. The first series of fixtures is scheduled for July 8 and 9 in Stornoway. Returning to Dingwall, County will play another low key friendly at Avoch on July 18.
On July 13, Dunfermline will be the visitors to Victoria Park before County make a short tour to the Shetland Isles for games at Scalloway and against an Island select XI om July 16 to 18.
July 21 will see County line up against a Highland League side still to be confirmed before higher profile matches against Livingston (July 24) and Dundee (July 26).
Four days later, County open their League Cup campaign.
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Ross County players resumed training yesterday in preparation for arguably the most important season in the club's proud history as the Third Division champions head for the uncharted waters of the Second.
With manager Neale Cooper still on holiday along with several of his squad, including internationals Brian Irvine and Nicky Walker, new assistant boss Gordon Chisholm took over the reins and revealed that the lads were in fine fettle physically.
He said: "The boys have come back in good shape having looked after themselves during the break.
"They worked hard in both the morning and afternoon sessions and they're looking forward to working with the ball later in the week after the hard work has been done."
Chisholm was particularly impressed by the joker in the County pack, man of many clubs, Paul Kinnaird.
Chisholm said: I've had the pleasure of working with Paul before and I can honestly say that he's in tremendous shape."
Chisholm reported that the Victoria Park pitch is like a bowling green, although that could work both for and against the Dingwall outfit.
He explained: "The pitch is in tremendous condition, which will really suit our passing game, but, unfortunately, every visiting team will also get a lift from the top-class facilities and playing surface here in Dingwall."
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Ross County snapped up midfielder John Fraser on a free transfer from Dunfermline Athletic.
And the Dingwall club's pre-season signing spree may not be over yet as there are currently three triallists going through their paces at Victoria Park.
Fraser featured twenty-two times in Dunfermline's ill-fated Premier League campaign last season, but was freed as part of a cost-cutting exercise at East End Park following relegation to Division One.
The 21-year-old does come with a strong recommendation from the staff at Dunfermline and joins County on a two-year deal.
Neale Cooper has strengthened his squad in all departments over the summer. There has been the high profile signing of Brian Irvine and he has been joined by strikers Michael Geraghty and Gary Nicol, winger Kevin Finlayson and 'keeper Gary Hamilton.
When the manager returns from holiday he will be able to cast his eye over a full time squad of twenty players.
It has aslo been announced that local men Dave McKay and Dave Ross have signed full time contract in a move that all but completes County's transformation into a full time football club.
Central defender Mark Haro is now the only part-time player and there is a question mark over his future in Dingwall.
Haro, who is currently on holiday, must report back to Victoria Park a trimmer figure thatn that which was witnessed at the end of last season. Cooper needs little convincing about the player's ability but has stated clearly that he will not tolerate an over-weight Haro despite the player's recent cult status amongst home supporters.
Announcing the new deals for McKay and Ross, County chief executive Alistair Kennedy stressed: "It has been said at times that we have lacked commitment to investing in local players, but in this case we are putting our faith in two players we feel can benefit from full time training.
"It was not a decision to take lightly as dave Mckay had a good job as an electrician in Inverness. In the case of Dave Ross it was easier as he is part of a family-run business and that offers him greater flexibility.
"This double signing, on two-year full time contracts, means we are virtually a full time club, with only mark Haro who has a good job in the south the exception.
"Add to the twenty full time players a further twenty full time skillseekers and you see the scale of things at Victoria Park now.
"Gordon Chisholm has had a good spell getting to know the players in pre-season training and the place is buzzing at the prospect of the new season."
Meanwhile, Ross County's trip to the Western Isles has had to be cancelled because of "red tape". The official start to the new season was July 10 and County's first match was due on July 9. Attempts to re-arrange the dates proved to be unsuitable.
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Ross County will swap their baseball bats for football boots when they travel to face Highland League Huntly in a friendly at Christie Park today.
Ross boss Neale Cooper broke up the routine of pre-season training by instigating a baseball match between his players. He believes in keeping the players interested in training and keeping their spirits high.
He said: "The players thought they would be running again, but instead we brought out a baseball bat in the afternoon. It is great for camaraderie among the squad and the games were really competitive.
"We are delighted to be facing Huntly. I was up there several times with Aberdeen as a player and it will be a hard game.
"It will be a good match for the players as they have been training really hard and their fitness levels are good. But match practice is important."
County supporters will have the chance to see six new faces. Former Aberdeen defender Brian Irvine will make his debut and others who could feature include Gary Nicol, Kevin Finlayson, keeper Gary Hamilton and Michael Geraghty.
Thursday's signing from Dunfermline, John Fraser, has a slight foot knock but is named in the squad for the game, which kicks-off at 3pm.
Huntly manager Phil Bonnyman will mix and match first and youth team players for the game.
He says, however, that the game has probably come too early for his players.
He said: "We've got lads like Dave Morland, Niall Grant and Wayne Addicoat still away on holiday, but Brian Grant could be back in time to play.
"We're still working on a couple of potential signings at the moment and I'd rather have taken this game in 10 days' time."
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Ross County will have their hands full when promoted Livingston are the visitors to Victoria Park today(KO: 3.00pm).
County manager Neale Cooper is looking forward to pitting his wits against Livvy boss Ray Stewart.
Cooper said: "We've had a good week's training and created a load of chances at Deveronvale without taking them. However, at least we've been creating opportunities and I've no doubt that shortly we'll start to put them away."
Cooper revealed that former Dunfermline Athletic striker George Shaw will be in his starting line-up for the Livvy game with Steve Ferguson, Gary Wood and Davie Ross all ruled out through injury.
Livingston are expected to have former Hearts and Scotland striker John Robertson on show and the prospect of him renewing his battle with both Nicky Walker and Brian Irvine is an enticing one.
Livvy's fast, short-passing game, similar to Ross County's own style, is ideally suited to the Victoria Park surface and this one should be a real cracker.
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This article appeared in the Scotland on Sunday (25 July 1999) and was written by Paul Forsyth. It pre-views the season ahead.
So much has been made of Ross County's ambition, their promising young manager, pristine facilities and prized location in a highland catchment area, that it has been easy to confuse potential at Victoria Park with achievement. That the club required five attempts to secure promotion from the Scottish League's bottom tier is a measure of their struggle to reap rewards.
But, with that long-waited Third Division title in the bag, and the opportunity to profit from bigger crowds and more exposure, the time has come to let their football do the talking, and prove that all the high hopes and compliments have not been misplaced.
Neale Cooper, manager of the Dingwall side, admits that there is a burden of pressure on them to fulfil expectations and avoid a quick return to the murky depths. Yet he is also of the opinion that their failure to rise with quite the acceleration of their Highland rivals, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who also joined the Scottish Football League five years ago, might stand them in good stead.
"It will be difficult," admits Cooper. "It's all new to us, and we don't know who the main threats will be. Partick Thistle have signed a few experienced players, so you can bet that John Lambie will have them ready; Queen of the South had a great run at the end of last season; and, Hamilton have experience of the First Division.
"But, in a funny sort of way, we have benefitted from taking a few seasons to win promotion. Obviously, we didn't choose to stay down, but there is no doubt that we have learned from it. We weren't strong enough in the past to stay up, if we had gone up, but I feel we are ready now."
Cooper says that he has watched with interest the experience of ICT, who struggled during their first season in Division Two, before a change in policy catapulted them into a promotion spot behind Livingston.
Cooper added: "I think they were a bit too loyal to the players who took them up, but they strengthened their squad last season, and did very well."
With that in mind, Cooper has made strenuous efforts to enhance the squad who won the championship. Most notable among his acquisitions is 34-year-old Brian Irvine, who will be a revelation in the County defence - alongside such as Craig Tully, Ian Maxwell and Dave McKay - should he produce the kind of form which made him a success at Premier Division Dundee last season.
With paul Kinnaird, John McGlashan and goalkeeper Nicky Walker providing experience, Cooper has signed 21-year-old John Fraser from Dunfermline in the hope that his potential will come to fruition in a midfield where much is expected from Steve Ferguson and Roy McBain.
The main problem for Cooper has been the loss of Neil Tarrant to Aston Villa and Derek Adams to Motherwell, so that his need fro strikers has become more pressing. Michael Gerraghty has been signed from Hamilton, Kevin Finlayson from Queen's Park and Gary Nicol from Celtic, but there is no denying that the manager has identified a void that has yet to be filled.
"We're not finished at that. The new boys have settled in well, but we need to be a little more ruthless in front of goal. We will not be afraid to go into the transfer market again if the right people come along. No one was happier than me to see Neil (Tarrant) get his chance in the Premiership, but we will miss him. It is up to us to nurture another one like him along the same lines."
Most significant though, in Ross County's 70-year history is that they have turned full-time. The distance travelled by players to training is such that Cooper was able to work with only seven or eight regurarly last season, and the squad saw less of each other than at almost any other part-time club.
"The chairman, maybe using some of the money from the sale of Tarrant and Adams, has acknowledged the importance of being full-time to a team in our location. It is fantastic being able to go out and train with the boys. Our aim should be to challenge at the end of the season."
So fine is the line between success and failure that the opportunity to draw bigger crowds and benefit from numerous spin-offs presented itself only after Ross County had crossed it. Now it is Cooper's job to ensure that they never look back.
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Elgin City play host to a Ross County side which humbled First Division Livingston 2-0 at the weekend (7.30).
County boss Neale Cooper will take a strong squad to Borough Briggs.
Cooper said last night: "We wil give a late fitness test to Steve Ferguson to see if he will be able to play and we will have Scotland youth keeper Gary Hamilton between the sticks for the trip.
"In addition, Michael Geraghty, Kevin Finlayson, Dave MacKay and Connor Campbell will all probably get a run out against Elgin."
Cooper revealed that he will be holding signing talks today with former Dunfermline Athletic striker George Shaw who starred in that Livingston win.
City boss Graham Tatters will have Michael Grant, Pete Maguire and Gary Youngson all available after holiday. Former Rothes central defender Alan Morris is also expected to line up at the heart of the City defence in place of Lee O'Brien, who is unavailable due to work commitments.
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Ross County yesterday signed former Dunfermline Athletic striker George Shaw on a two-year contract.
County manager Neale Cooper has snapped up the former Dundee and Partick Thistle forward to spearhead his side's Second Division promotion push.
He joins Brian Irvine, Mike Geraghty, Kevin Finlayson, John Fraser and Gary Nicol as the Victoria Park side's new recruits.
Shaw said: "I am glad that my future has been sorted out before the new season because it has been a very uncertain summer.
"County 'phoned me to ask if I would play against Livingston on Saturday, so I went up and I thought I did reasonably well considering it was my first game since the end of last season.
"Roy MacGregor and Ross County have shown great ambition and they have put their money where their mouth is. This has been shown in the new transfers, the club staying full-time and now aiming its targets at promotion to the First Division. It is important that we get off to a winning start.
"Even if I'm not scoring it won't bother me as long as the team are winning."
He added that he wanted to get off to a good start against Forfar on Saturday to keep up the good record he has maintained in the tournament over the last few seasons.
County boss Neale Cooper, said: "I felt we lacked a bit of experience and I spoke to a few people about George and I then watched him on Saturday and he played really well.
"We are delighted that we have signed George because he is a winner, he leads the line well, has two good feet and he also has top Premier League experience.
"There is now a good feeling among the squad and I feel I have the squad of players that I want to start the season."
Ross trialist Derek McGill is now on the look out for a new club after failing to win a contract. McGill is a former Raith Rovers player.
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Promoted champions Ross County face a CIS League Cup challenge at Victoria Park today - against the team they replaced in the Second Division.
Relegated Forfar are the visitors and the prize is a money-spinning tie at Dundee United, but the Angus side have a good record against County in Dingwall.
County manager Neale Cooper said: "It will be a very difficult game for us and my players must be more up for it than Forfar.
"If they show the same commitment and discipline as they did during pre-season then I can't ask for more. It's our first home game since we clinched the Third Division championship, so hopefully there will be a good turnout."
County have a full squad with the exception of David MacKay, who has an eye injury, and Davie Ross, who has an ankle knock.
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