Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor ‘We had to be real, it wasn’t working’
Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor spoke of the distress and personal shock of an emotional parting of ways with former manager Stuart Kettlewell immediately after Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Hamilton Accies.
Kettlewell, with over 11 years’ service as player, coach and manager, leaves with the club four points adrift at the foot of the Premiership and without a league win in 10 games since mid-September.
However, Kettlewell has been offered his former youth academy post to stay at the club.
Despite emotions running high, MacGregor’s sharp business mind was quickly on the case to find a successor, with John Hughes appointed on Monday, but he insists no moves were made before the sacking.
He said: “It’s been an extremely tough one for us, not just on Saturday but for a few weeks.
“Everyone, including Stuart, was aware of the situation.
“We’d hoped he would get a reaction from the players, particularly in the last two games, but that didn’t happen.
“We had two games this week that looked winnable, but we didn’t look like winning either.
“It was affecting Stuart as well.
“He stepped up into the managerial job willingly and is part of the fabric of Ross County.
“We’re not ditching him, but this project hasn’t worked. That’s where we are.”
MacGregor insists he waited longer than he might have to wield the axe, given his close relationship with outgoing manager Kettlewell.
“It was emotional on Saturday, but myself, Steven Ferguson and Stuart all knew the situation,” said MacGregor.
“On a human level, I’m in a little bit of shock. What we created at the club was a Ross County model, with Ross County people.
“This bit of it didn’t work. Everyone’s in shock with that, but we’ve also got to be real – it wasn’t working.”