Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson says the Staggies’ 12-month stint in the Championship has made them all the more grateful to be back among Scotland’s elite.
County’s six-year stay in the top-flight was ended last year when they suffered relegation on the final day of the campaign, however Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell led the Dingwall men to the Championship title at the first time of asking in their first full season in charge.
The Staggies will make their return to the Premiership tomorrow when they host Hamilton Accies, where they will be presented with last season’s Championship flag.
Ferguson hopes County can emerge refreshed following their spell in the second-tier, and he said: “It hurt a lot of people going down, and it’s something we wouldn’t like to experience again.
“We are well aware of the pitfalls and problems we could face in the Premiership.
“If we don’t go about our own business in the proper manner, we could be falling in those traps again.
“We know how difficult and competitive the league is, but the Championship is too and we would much rather be fighting our corner in the Premiership.”
Ferguson is intent on rekindling the feel-good factor which led his side to their league and cup double winning campaign last year, and he added: “It’s a different type of buzz to last season.
“Everybody wants to be in the Premiership and we are grateful for the opportunity we are going to have.
“Off the back of winning the league and winning the IRN-BRU Cup there was a bounce, but it can stop bouncing very quickly if you don’t do it properly.
“There is a really good feel about the place just now. The only way it’s like that is because we have been winning games.
“We won games in the Championship, and we managed to win games in the Betfred Cup. There is that feel.
“We are under no illusions, as are the players, that that doesn’t last forever. It only lasts if we keep winning games.”
Ferguson says sentiment must go out the window by the time tomorrow’s game against Accies kicks off, adding: “The start of every season is always exciting and full of hopes and dreams.
“There is always that special feeling when a league campaign starts.
“To receive the Championship flag and get that unfurled in front of our crowd adds an extra little bit of spice to it.
“We are well on top of the fact that it’s business as usual. We don’t want to get caught up in the first league game, and put too much emphasis on this first home game.
“It’s a game we fought so hard for last year. What we don’t want to do is miss that opportunity.”