Ross County boss Derek Adams wants Staggies to make their mark

Ross County manager Derek Adams has urged his team to continue their progression by making their mark in the Scottish Premier League this season.

The First Division champions make their debut in the top flight this term, opening the campaign at home to Motherwell on Saturday.

"Season on season, we've moved on," Adams told BBC Scotland.

"If we progress the way we've progressed over the number of years we've been here, we'll do well."

County have upgraded their Victoria Park ground for the top flight and Adams replenished his squad with players who have plenty of SPL experience, including Ross Tokely.

The veteran defender ended a 16-year spell at County's Highland rivals Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

"We're thoroughly looking forward to the start of the season," said Adams. "The stadium's looking great, the players have prepared well for the season.

"We want to do as well as we can in the SPL, we want to finish as high as possible. Last season was exactly the same. We're going there to pick up as many points as we possibly can.

"We've taken in a number of players over the summer and Inverness have taken a number of our players over the years.

"We've now taken the likes of Russell Duncan, Grant Munro, Ross Tokely and Iain Vigurs. It'll be good for them to go back to Inverness in the derby match and hopefully they'll do well here."

General manager Ranald Gilbert is confident the Staggies are in robust shape off the park ahead of their SPL introduction.

"It's no secret, we're very fortunate," he said. "The board of directors as a whole and the chairman have been a fantastic support to the club right through the rise through the leagues.

"We're looking forward and indeed upwards with renewed confidence and optimism. There are obviously challenges, but there are certainly opportunities as well.

"All clubs and all fans are eyeing those European spots and thinking that there's a definite pathway forward there.

"Football fans as a whole are looking forward to the action being on the pitch not off it."