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Ross County yesterday signed Caley Thistle's out-of-contract international defender Richard Hastings until the end of the season.
The Canadian player knocked back new terms at Caledonian Stadium and had been on trial at Bournemouth as he looked to move on.
But County stepped in to offer the talented defender a deal to allow him to get back into competitive action again.
County boss Neale Cooper will not, however, hand his latest signing an immediate first-team debut against Ayr United at Somerset Park.
Hastings will play at home against Elgin City in a North Cup tie with County's second-string.
Cooper said: "I'm delighted to have Richard here as he has always performed well while playing for Caley Thistle.
"He was out of contract and several clubs were interested in him, but I'm pleased he has chosen to come here."
One problem County will have to deal with is Hastings' international commitments which will take him away from Victoria Park in the new year.
"Richard is not required by Canada until January and we know we'll have to deal with that," added Cooper.
"This is the problem you have when you sign an international player but it is a nice problem."
Cooper admitted his team face a severe test against in-form Ayr, who will be looking to build on a flying start to the season.
He said: "It will be difficult. Ayr are in good form but we'll go down there and give it a real go."
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Ross County manager Neale Cooper is confident his side will reach the Bell's Challenge Cup semi-finals after receiving a home tie against Brechin City in yesterday's quarter-final draw.
Cooper's side have clocked up the miles with trips to Ayr, Dumbarton and Cowdenbeath in the last week and a home draw was good news for the Dingwall club.
Cooper said: "I'm relieved to be at home. We've had to travel long distances for cup games at Cowdenbeath and Dumbarton, and the league game at Ayr recently.
"I spoke to Dick Campbell earlier and we couldn't believe we'd been drawn together in The Bell's Challenge Cup and The CIS League Cup, but that's football."
Cooper believes his side's form is improving after a poor start in the league, insisting their Challenge Cup display against Dumbarton was encouraging.
He said: "I saw a lot of good things in the win at Dumbarton and the younger players, in particular, looked very composed. They have shown that they have the potential to do well at the club.
"I don't usually single out players, but I thought our Irish player, Sean Webb, had an excellent game. He's only 17, but if you're good enough, you're old enough.
"I'm a lot happier with the way we're playing now compared to the opening-day league defeat by Arbroath and hopefully, we can improve in the league and reach the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup."
Brechin manager Campbell is confident his side can continue their good start to the season at County's expense.
He said: "I think we've as good a chance as anybody against Ross County.
"I've known Neale Cooper a long time and he knows we'll be well-organised and up for next Tuesday's game.
"It's a test which will show me how far we have come. We've only lost one goal this season and, hopefully, we'll continue to improve."
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 | Ross County could be told to hand over a five-figure compensation payment, set by a SFA tribunal, to East Stirling for summer signing Steve Hislop. The Firs Park club is preparing to push for as much as £100,000 after turning down a six-figure pre-transfer deadline offer from Motherwell in March. But, yesterday, County chief executive Alastair Kennedy was confident County's valuation of the player, understood to be around £2,000, is realistic and that the SFA will see things the Dingwall club's way. |
Kennedy said: "I know that our chairman has been in discussions with the East Stirling chairman, although there hasn't been much dialogue recently. "The two clubs haven't fallen out but it's fair to say we both have very different views on the valuation of Steve Hislop. "We've accepted that we will probably be going to a tribunal but, to be honest, we're not clear on the procedures involved as it will be a first for us. "However, we feel we have a reasonable case as Steve came from part-time football and we know what he was being paid at East Stirling. "It's a big step up to the First Division but he is handling it well and the sooner this can be resolved, the better for all concerned." East Stirling manager Brian Ross, predictably, sees the issue in a very different light but he was still hopeful yesterday that an agreement can be worked out before a tribunal date is set. Ross said: "Our position is that we were offered a couple of thousand pounds by Ross County for Steve Hislop and we turned it down. "We have a much higher valuation of the player and County's offer was nowhere near it. "I know our secretary, Les Thompson, holds County chairman Roy McGregor in high regard, so I'd like to think a fee can be agreed." Ross's comments suggest that Shire will go to a tribunal, if and when one is convened, and are ready to make a strong case. He said: "Steve was the Third Division's player of the year last season and a number of clubs were interested in him, so I think it's fair that we are compensated for losing him. "We took a chance on him when we took him from the East of Scotland League and he quickly showed real promise." Last night it looked certain Shire will insist that County are ordered to pay a figure much closer to Motherwell's offer than the bid currently tabled by the Victoria Park club. | |
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Ross County tackle Raith Rovers to Victoria Park this afternoon intent on breaking their Division 1 points duck.
The Dingwall side has made a sluggish start in back-to-back defeats by Arbroath and Ayr United.
But manager Neale Cooper has been encouraged by his team's midweek performances in The Bell's Challenge Cup.
He said: "We need to get league points on the board and we'll be going all-out to win.
"The result is the all-important factor because we can't get isolated from the teams above us, even this early.
"The boys are in good spirits after beating Dumbarton on Tuesday and they're looking that little bit sharper.
"Raith Rovers are an experienced side but we know what's to be done. If we want to start picking up points in the league, we need to put teams under more pressure than we have been doing."
Former Caley Thistle defender Richard Hastings will make his home league debut, while striker Alex Bone plays after completing his league suspension.
And Cooper believes the presence of both players will give team morale a boost.
He said: "Richard is an experienced player and a full international.
"He will add quality to our defensive work and Alex was a key player in our forward line last season.
"We've missed Alex in the league and he has missed playing. Hopefully, he will take his frustration out on Rovers."
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Ross County's Canadian international defender Richard Hastings could miss tonight's Bell's Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with Brechin City at Victoria Park (7.0).
Hastings, who made an impressive home debut in Saturday's 1-0 First Division win over Raith Rovers, has a blister on his heel which was painful enough to stop the former Caley Jags man training yesterday.
Manager Neale Cooper intends to put out an unchanged line-up against the unbeaten Third Division championship favourites and he will give Hastings a late fitness test before he names his side.
"We looked very solid at the back against Raith Rovers and that gave us a good platform to go out and get our first league win of the season and I want to put the same side out against Brechin if possible," said Cooper.
"Richard's heel was very uncomfortable after Saturday's game but, hopefully, by the time kick-off time comes around he'll be able to play."
After seeing the likes of Caley Thistle, Falkirk and Ayr United go out last Tuesday night, Cooper is eyeing up a run into November's final if possible. However, Brechin will be tough opposition tonight and they will fancy themselves to produce a shock result.
He said: "Looking at the sides who went out, those of us left have to fancy our chances of going all the way in the competition.
"But Brechin will be tough opponents. They'll have nothing to lose and Dick Campbell has a very experienced squad which is never a pushover in cup ties."
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Caley Thistle and Ross County are locked in a signing battle for Livingston midfielder Mark McCulloch.
County manager Neale Cooper and Caley Jags boss Steve Paterson are both understood to have expressed an interest in the player, who is currently out of the Livvy first-team picture.
The two Highland clubs face stiff competition from Plymouth, whose manager, Paul Sturrock, has been monitoring the midfielder's progress.
Former Caley Thistle captain McCulloch signed for Livingston along with Barry Wilson last year and was part of manager Jim Leishman's promotion-winning team. But he has been out of the first-team picture during Livvy's fine start to their Premier League campaign.
His contract at Almondvale expires at the end of the season and, although not on the transfer list, it is understood the club is willing to let the player leave for a fee of £25,000.
The 26-year-old operated in a holding role for Livvy last season, scoring five goals in 46 games for the club.
County boss Cooper is understood to see McCulloch as the ideal foil for midfielders Karim Boukraa and Martin Prest, while Paterson would also like to bring his former captain back to Caledonian Stadium.
If County were successful in bringing McCulloch to Victoria Park, it would represent Cooper's second signing of an ex-Caley player this season after Canadian international defender Richard Hastings moved to Dingwall from Inverness under freedom of contract.
Caley Jags have also been active in the transfer market, with former County goalkeeper Nicky Walker set to join them.
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