Ryan Dow feels his move to Peterhead has been vindicated and plans talks on his future in the coming weeks.
The on-loan midfielder joined from Ross County in September and his rediscovered his love for the game after a frustrating couple of seasons with the Staggies.
He is due to return to Dingwall at the start of January but the decision is simple for Dow: he wants to be where he is playing football.
Dow started just once under Owen Coyle, when he replaced Jim McIntyre as County manager in September 2017, and played once under Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson after they replaced Coyle in March. He is unsure of where he stands at County but will go wherever he feels he will play regularly.
Dow said: “Before I made the decision it came down to not playing and people saying it might be a risk (to drop down). It would be a risk staying and not playing. You can’t rely on people saying you were a good player a couple of years ago because that doesn’t really help. It’s good coming back now, playing week in week out and not questioning why you’re not playing.
“Under the old managers I didn’t really get much of a chance and when I did, I didn’t take it. It’s been frustrating since Jim McIntyre left but I’m not going to put the blame on everyone else. I could have gone out on loan last January but it didn’t work out and I had the opportunity to do it after this window shut. I had to take it. I wasn’t going to dwell on it too much as the decision has been the right one.
“We had the discussion before I went on loan that I just wanted to play but we’ve not really spoke about it since. I just need to have the conversation with them and hopefully that will happen over the next couple of weeks.
“I know what I can do and I’m feeling match-fit. Playing and winning helps and it’s good to be involved with a winning team. Hopefully we can have a successful season here and the game tomorrow is massive.
“When I came back this year, the aim was to get promoted with Ross County and it never worked out after the Betfred Cup games. But on both fronts (County and Peterhead) the aim is to go up.”
Dow will be part of the Blue Toon squad that faces Edinburgh City tonight and he credits manager Jim McInally – also his father-in-law – for helping resurrect his career.
He added: “He had suggested the move to me and if I was going to take a drop down, I was only going there. It’s been a good fit and it’s been a long time since I’ve been enjoying my football.”
