Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor was not swayed by the stellar names who applied for the manager’s job in Dingwall, insisting recruiting a Scottish manager to replace Derek Adams at Victoria Park was always his priority.
Former Queen of the South manager Jim McIntyre was handed the Staggies job earlier this week, ending MacGregor’s search for a replacement for Adams who was sacked last month.
High-profile names including former Netherlands internationals, attacker Patrick Kluivert and defender Winston Bogarde, and Spaniard Sergio Lobera applied for the job, while former Celtic forward John Hartson was interviewed.
MacGregor said the importance of appointing a manager with broad knowledge of the Scottish game put McIntyre in pole position: “All our applicants had something, but Jim was the best suit for what Ross County needed because he ticked more of the boxes on our job description than anybody else.
“It was really difficult, but it was about what Ross County needed. I had the great day on Monday with John Hartson. I wish I could have given John the job as he was the most wonderful man I’ve met in a long time.
“I also spoke to Patrick Kluivert over the phone. I think he probably wanted to stay in Holland. I’m not sure if he got the under-21s job at Ajax, but I think he probably wanted that and was using this as a way of trying to achieve it. I’m not sure if he really wanted it, but he applied as did Winston Bogarde, and the former Barcelona assistant manager Sergio Lobera applied.
“We’ve got to remember where we are. We’re a community club in the Highlands, and would be classed as punching above our weight. We’re trying to learn to be a Premiership club.
“The third season in, success for us would be staying here and being able to plan from here, and we’d like a cup win. We’ve got to remember where we are and what we are, and not get dazzled in the headlights. Agents will put people forward for every job that’s on the go, so you’ve got to sift out whether these things are real. We wanted a Scottish manager who was passionate, aggressive and on the way up and I think we have got one in Jim McIntyre.”