Ross County may have enjoyed the most successful campaign in their history, but assistant manager Billy Dodds is confident the Staggies can make further progress next season.
The Dingwall side’s League Cup final victory against Hibernian in March brought their first major silverware, while they also finished in the top-half of the Premiership for only the second time.
Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, the Highlanders have made great strides, but Dodds feels Jim McIntyre’s side must strive for better next year.
Dodds said: “We look at the disappointments we’ve had along the way here and there but we’ve got to look at the season overall. Has there been improvement? Yes. We’ve won our first major trophy.
“It’s going to be difficult to sustain it, with Rangers being back. It’s going to be a stronger league.
“We know how difficult it’s going to be, but there’s been improvement from when we came here to stay up and we’re hoping for more next year.
“We’re not stupid, it’s going to be more difficult, but it’s not unrealistic to think we can do it.
“We’ve got the structure in place and most of the squad are signed up for next season.
“There will be changes, and hopefully they’re the right ones to kick us on again and improve the team again that little bit more.”
County round off the campaign with tomorrow’s match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, and will finish sixth in the table regardless of the outcome.
With the pressure off, Dodds hopes the Staggies can flourish, and he added: “We’ve just got to be meticulous and do our jobs properly.
“It’s human nature for players, especially now when fifth place is gone, they might switch off.
“But coming into the final game of the season, as a former player myself, I wanted to play well.
“It’s one of those where I freed up, with no pressure, and wanted to go and enjoy it and then look forward to the holidays.”
