Stuart Kettlewell may not have seen much of his wife Katie in recent weeks but Ross County’s interim co-manager insists he is enjoying the responsibility of taking charge of the Staggies.
Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson are at the Victoria Park helm until the end of the season following the resignation of Owen Coyle earlier this month.
Kettlewell, who led County’s under-20s to the Development League title last season, is intent on putting his own mark on the side in the hope of keeping the Dingwall club in the Premiership, with the Staggies three points adrift at the foot of the table ahead of tomorrow’s trip to leaders Celtic.
Kettlewell said: “Both of us have a belief in how we should play and deal with each scenario.
“We are very close that way and are forever speaking about it.
“I think our wives are probably at breaking point given we spend just about every hour of the day here together and then on the phone later in the evening.
“But that’s our belief in preparation and giving ourselves and the team the best opportunity to be ready for every situation.
“We get little words of advice from past players and managers, well-respected people in the game – and that’s great, but you have to be true to yourself.
“You have to be the person you feel you are and put your stamp on it. That’s something I took from Steven when I first came on board with the under-20s job – a simple saying.
“If you’re going to fail or if you’re going to succeed, make sure you do it your own way.
“Don’t ever do it by someone else’s influence or someone else telling you what to do. The whole situation then becomes pointless.
“That’s something I genuinely believe in. You have to have big enough shoulders to take responsibility.”
Even despite County’s position, Kettlewell feels the Staggies players should relish the opportunity to face Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops side on the Parkhead stage.
Kettlewell must make do without midfielder Jamie Lindsay who is on loan from the Hoops, and he added: “It’s one of those games, as a player, that you really look forward to.
“You go there and try to showcase what you can do as an individual, and hopefully that comes together as a group.
“If you don’t want to go and play at Parkhead or Ibrox or places like that, then there’s a serious problem.
“I don’t think you go there with any fear whatsoever.
“There is no pressure on us as such – the pressure comes from the position that we sit in the league.
“But from where we are going to play, and the team we are going to play against, we understand what that is.”