Highlands & Islands

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Whoever is appointed Malky Mackay's successor at Ross County won't be short of problems to solve.

Mackay was dismissed after a nine-game winless run, with only goal difference keeping the Staggies off the bottom of the table, and a porous defence was a major factor in their struggles.

County's 21 goals conceded from 12 matches is a league high, alongside Motherwell and Livingston who have played a game fewer.

It can't all be pinned on the defence, though, as the Staggies need to become tougher to break down - they have faced the most shots (189) and shots on target (72) of any top-flight team.

And they're also struggling at the other end of the pitch, despite boasting attacking talent including Jordan White, Yan Dhanda and Simon Murray.

County have failed to score in half of their league matches this season and only St Johnstone and Livingston have netted fewer goals than the Dingwall men's haul of 11. County are actually outperforming their expected goals (xG) of 10.12, suggesting a lack of creative flair.

The new manager may also look to revamp the team's style of play, with County's direct approach lacking effectiveness.

The Staggies have made the fewest successful passes (2454) in the division and had the joint lowest possession with Dundee at 41%.

Former Celtic and Hibernian boss Neil Lennon is the bookmakers' favourite to be named the new manager of Ross County, followed closely by former Scotland midfielder Scott Brown, according to Sports Lens. (Sports Lens via Glasgow Times), external

Ross County have told interim manager Don Cowie to show he has the credentials to take the reins full-time after Malky Mackay was shown the door as team boss. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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We asked for your views after Ross County parted company with manager Malky Mackay...

Paul: The team was stagnant. Malky's tatics didn't work. His reliance on White up top was really frustrating. Change was needed before we are embroiled in a relegation battle again. I believe the squad is good enough for mid-table, maybe even top 6 at a push. Hopefully get someone who can get the most out of our talented forward players.

Duncan: Neil McCann for Ross County.

Kenny: Correct decision. Was never a popular appointment and it hasn't worked out. Knowing the club, they may well appoint Don Cowie and have him supported by Steven Ferguson - this would be the most economical solution, but I feel we need someone external. Stephen Craigan? Has done work with the media team and a stint at Motherwell. Straight talker.

Anon: Right decision to let Malky go. The team were sticking and although performances weren't horrendous, you need to pick up points against those around you, which they haven't done. Would like to think his replacement will be proven with a good track record, but not the same old suspects. Would like to see McLeish or Wilder, personally.

David: There was an inevitability about this decision. Football management is a result driven business and I’m afraid given our poor run of form Malky had to go. Have to bring in somebody who is going to make an immediate impact and that is not from within existing coaches as they must also shoulder blame.

Anon: Big mistake. County will now be relegation favourites. Malky would have kept them up again this season.

Ronny: It's been coming for a while now, if truth be told. A decent start to the season had kind of papered over the cracks that started to appear about a year ago. It's been a grim watch at times following County, and a bang average defeat at the weekend was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Anon: Ruud Van Nistelrooy is the man we should approach. New into football management and the Scottish Premiership will be a great place for him to cut his teeth. Also, bring a lot of interest to the club.

Evan: This was definitely the right move, and at the right time for the Staggies. Neil Lennon, Billy Dodds or Robbie Neilson would be my top picks for a replacement.

Anon: Removing a manager is one thing but if the new manager doesn't have the tools to take the club forward you are going to get the same result. Mackay hasn't become a bad manager. If he is successful at his next club, then it will beg the question - was the winless run his fault or those of the players?

Neil: Despite Roy MacGregor's financial input, what do Ross County fans realistically expect of their club in terms of league position? It is a small, provincial club with a very limited fan base. Will another manager be able to squeeze more out of the same squad of players, to attain a top 6 finish?

Anon: Malky Mackay has been a good manager, brought in some decent players. As always, the very good ones move on and the manager needs to rebuild. Over time I guess that can sap a manager. County has been lucky to have a manager of his calibre but maybe it's the best time for both parties to part ways.

Mark: I think it is really harsh what has happened to Malky. One win moves them up to 8th. He has provided stability in his time at County and has bought and sold well.

Anon: Callum Davidson would organise County defensively and find a way of getting more service to his front players. With Callum at the helm they’ll easily avoid relegation.

Neil: There should be more investment from the board and Scott Brown is available, who would bring the tactics and fight to keep us in the league.

John: I'm surprised they have dismissed Mackay, the division is very tight and a couple of wins and they would have been pushing top six. In terms of a replacement, I agree they will go with experience. Although some people say 'never go back' I think McIntyre might be a good shout.

Former Ross County assistant Billy Dodds believes survival in the Scottish Premiership would be "a relative success" for the Staggies and their next manager.

County announced boss Malky Mackay's departure on Wednesday morning, with the side second bottom of the league after 12 games.

Dodds assisted Jim McIntyre in Dingwall, helping Ross County win their first major trophy with the Scottish League Cup in 2016.

"It was a bit of a shock," Dodds told the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.

"They're still competitive but I know they're down the bottom and that's when [chairman] Roy [MacGregor] can get a little bit twitchy.

"Survival is the key. If they stay in the Premiership, it's a relative success.

"They've got a good squad of players. There's a lot of managers desperate to get back in the game as well. It's an attractive job."

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BBC Sport Scotland's Tyrone Smith

The answer to the question of why County have decided a change is required seems straightforward. Recent results simply haven't been good enough.

They are currently joint bottom of the Premiership. They have gone eight league games without a victory. Their more recent was on 2 September - a 1-0 success at Kilmarnock.

It is also worth noting that County preserved their Premiership status last season by the skin of their teeth, after a play-off penalty shootout win over Partick Thistle. The club hierarchy will be wary of becoming similarly embroiled this term.

So given all of the above, it is perhaps not that surprising they have decided to act now.

They might also have cast a little glance over the Kessock Bridge at their Championship neighbours, Inverness Caledonian Thistle. They recently brought in Duncan Ferguson and their fortunes have been transformed.

County will be hoping something similar can happen to them and there will be no shortage of candidates for what will be viewed as a very attractive job.

Despite their current plight, County are just seven points off fourth, so there is still plenty of time to get things moving in the right direction. And County managers tend to get pretty decent backing from Roy MacGregor.

There will no doubt be a host of names in the frame and don't be surprised if we see the likes of Scott Brown, Neil Lennon and Callum Davidson linked with the job.

The international break does at least afford the County decision makers a little bit of breathing space to gather their thoughts and plot a way forward.

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So County have parted company with manager Malky Mackay. Was it time or do you think the decision was too hasty? And where do the Dingwall club turn next?

Let us know what you think here.

Ross Morren, The County Corner, external

The international break might be coming at a good time for Ross County.

On Saturday, a poor performance from the Staggies saw them fall to a 1-0 defeat away to St Johnstone. The result allowed the Perth side to move off the bottom of the table and leapfrog Malky Mackay’s side up to 10th.

In the recent away performances at Fir Park and Easter Road, County carried a threat going forward and created plenty chances, as evidenced by the five goals scored in those two matches. However, at McDiarmid Park there was a lack of quality on the ball and County failed to test Dimitar Mitov.

Former County player Graham Carey’s stunning strike to win the match was one of the few moments of quality in a scrappy ninety minutes. County fans know Carey has a wand of a left foot, so when he stepped up to strike the ball it felt inevitable the ball would end up in the top corner.

Saturday was County’s fifth match in eighteen days, four of which have been away from home. It’s been a gruelling schedule for The Staggies over the last couple of weeks, so the international break arriving might be a blessing in disguise.

Previous international breaks arrived at the wrong time for County. Over the past couple of seasons, there’s been several occasions where County looked to be hitting good form, but then the international break would halt the momentum created.

This time, the pause in the domestic schedule will allow the players to rest and reset both physically and mentally, and players such as Josh Sims and Josh Reid can continue their recovery from injury and try to force their way back into the starting XI.

Malky Mackay will be looking forward to his squad getting back to a normal training routine following the hectic schedule over the last few weeks, and plot how to end the nine-match winless run the club are currently on.

• Ross County have failed to score in six of their 12 Scottish Premiership games this season - their opponents St Johnstone are the only team in the league who have failed to score more often.

• However, St Johnstone's goal against County made it three games in a row that they have found the back of the net, their longest scoring streak this season.

• St Johnstone have also managed their longest unbeaten run since last term after making it three games without defeat.

• More bad news for County, the defeat to St Johnstone made it eight games without a win in the league - their last joint longest winless streak was between April and August 2022.