Ross County

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Representatives from Celtic, Hibernian and Ross County feature on the SPFL board for the 2024-25 season.

County director James MacDonald, Hibs non-executive chairman Malcolm McPherson and Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson make up the Premiership contingent.

Paul Hetherington (Airdrieonians) and Graeme Mathie (Ayr United) will represent the Championship, while Andrew Allan (Alloa Athletic) and Allan Maitland (Clyde) have been elected for League 1 and 2.

In a statement, the SPFL say clubs also "voted unanimously" to approve a recommendation that a new Ifab protocol for permanent concussion substitutes is used across all SPFL competitions.

"Each team will be allowed one concussion substitute per match in addition to the normal number of substitutes and substitution opportunities," they say.

"If that concussion substitute is used, the other team is allowed an additional substitute."

We asked you Ross County fans what you thought of Kyle Turner's exit and whether you back Don Cowie in the summer transfer window.

Here's what you had to say:

Anon: I trust Don Cowie's judgement. He has to manage a small group of players with a small budget. He has to use his limited resources to give RCFC the strongest team possible and I'm sure he will.

Anon: Kyle Turner has work to do at Partick Thistle - there was a smug look on his face when he scored that penalty for Raith Rovers to come back against Thistle in the play-offs. He will have to work really hard to get the fans back on his side.

Craig: Turner never got a proper crack at it with County. He looked a good player when given the chance, it's a shame they have let him go. He looked like he could be the Yan Dhanda replacement. Interesting to see who we bring in.

Anon: I think it was a very good idea to let him go although he was a very good player who could have benefitted County.

Some on social media raised an eyebrow as it was announced Kyle Turner would leave Ross County and rejoin Partick Thistle earlier this week.

You've had a few days to digest the news, so we want to know how you're feeling.

Has Don Cowie made a mistake in letting the midfielder slip through his fingers? Or is it the right move as County look ahead to another season in the top flight?

Give us your thoughts. , external

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The results are in. And they may be a surprise.

We asked you to cast your vote on whether the Scottish Premiership should keep VAR or scrap it.

More than 3,000 of you responded to the poll - and while there was a clear majority, it was no landslide.

Those in favour of ditching VAR totalled 67% of voters, while 33% were in favour of favour of keeping it.

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Kyle Turner has rejoined Partick Thistle after being released halfway through his Ross County contract.

The midfielder moved to the Staggies on a two-year deal last summer and went on to make 23 appearances, scoring three goals, before spending the second half of the season on loan at Raith Rovers.

Turner, 26, has now signed a two-year contract to return to Thistle, where he previously spent two seasons.

Confirming his departure, County said: "Everyone at the club wishes Kyle the very best of luck in the next chapter of his career."

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BBC Scotland will continue to broadcast live matches and highlights from the Scottish Cup for another five years.

The new deal extends the BBC's arrangement of showing a game from each round - up to and including the final - on a free-to-air platform.

The contract also allows the broadcaster to produce "near live digital highlights".

The Scottish Youth Cup final will also be shown live for the next five years.

• Read the full story

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Controversy and VAR have been intertwined ever since its implementation in the Scottish top flight in October 2022.

From handball decisions to fouls and penalties, managers and fans alike have had grievances over the technology - and the length of time taken for decisions to be made.

With the 2023-24 season complete and the new campaign a number of weeks away, would you rather see VAR scrapped from Scottish football or persevered with?

Cast your vote here.

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Ross County remain in contract talks with four key players. (Press & Journal - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Derek Adams has made his return to management following his eventful, albeit short-lived, third spell at Ross County.

The 48-year-old has made his way back to Morecambe, the side he said was "100 times better" than the Dingwall outfit he inherited last season.

Adams slammed the standard of Scottish football after County were defeated by Dundee in an extraordinary BBC interview in December, before leaving his post in February.

Upon his return to The Shrimps, he said: "Morecambe FC is a club I know well from my previous two spells at the football club, and I am looking forward to getting started.

"There is a lot of work to be done over the transfer window to get ready for the start of the new season, and I know the board of directors were looking for a manager who knows the football club and how it works.

"I’m delighted to come back and try and help the football club move forward again."

We asked for your views on who you'd class as one of Ross County's cult heroes.

Here's a taste of what some of you had to say:

Shaun: Karim Boukraa was fantastic and frustrating. Melvin De Leeuw was a brilliant Dutch wide man. Regan Charles-Cook was a star under Malky Mackay. Liam Boyce and Yan Dhanda two more heroes are now both at Hearts. Michael Gardyne had his best days in a County shirt. Billy Ferries, a wing wizard, would be worth millions today. Simon Murray is still writing his story!

David: Karim Boukra.

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Ross County winger Jay Henderson has joined Championship side Ayr United on a season long-loan deal.

The 22-year-old made 15 appearances for The Staggies last term, scoring once.

He becomes Scott Brown's second long signing for a Premiership side in as many days.

Hearts goalkeeper Harry Stone made the temporary switch to Somerset Park on Friday.

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Ross County will kick off the season at Stranraer in the opening game of their Premier Sports Cup campaign.

Don Cowie's side will travel to Stair Park on Saturday, 13 July before welcoming Raith Rovers for a Scottish Premiership play-off final rematch.

The Dingwall outfit then head to newly-promoted Hamilton Academical, before going to League 2 Stirling Albion.

Fixtures (all times BST)

Stranraer v Ross County - Saturday, 13 July (15:00)

Ross County v Raith Rovers - Saturday, 20 July (15:00)

Hamilton Academical v Ross County - Tuesday, 23 July (19:45)

Ross County v Stirling Albion - Saturday, 27 July (15:00)

Players come and go, but sometimes a new face will arrive and win the hearts of supporters unexpectedly.

Who's the lesser-remembered player that showed up at Ross County with little expectation and perhaps had more passion than talent, but turned into a hero loved across the fanbase?

Give us your shout. , external

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Will Nightingale says he will remember his Ross County spell "forever" after returning to parent club AFC Wimbledon.

The 28-year-old had been with the The Wombles his whole career before moving on loan to the Dingwall side in July 2023.

After returning down south, the defender has praised the support for welcoming him to the Highlands.

"Ross County, where to start," Nightingale wrote on Instagram.

"My first ever football club away from my boyhood club since I was eight years old. You have been everything I could have hoped for and more.

"The fans have been absolutely brilliant with me and made me feel so welcome, so to finish the season on a high and keep the club in the Premiership was for you guys.

"A special club and an experience I'll remember forever, up the Staggies."

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Jordan Tillson will leave Ross County following the expiry of his contract, the Dingwall club has announced.

Yan Dhanda has also said his goodbyes after signing a pre-contract at Hearts, while academy graduates Matthew Wright and Adam Mackinnon will also depart.

Tillson, 31, joined County in 2020 and made over 100 appearances for the club. The midfielder spent last season on loan at Championship winners Dundee United.

"Jordan has been a tremendous servant for our football club amassing over 100 appearances," manager Don Cowie said.

"He has been a model professional & we wish him & his family the very best for the next chapter in his career."

Cowie also thanked this season's loan players for their services, with Will Nightingale, George Wickens, Loick Ayina, Teddy Jenks, Eli King, Brandon Khela and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson all returning to their parent clubs.

He added: "On behalf of the club I would like to thank all the loan players in their key contribution both on and off the park in helping the club secure Premiership football next season."

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Chief executive Neil Doncaster says crowd figures are "hugely promising" after the SPFL broke its attendance record for the second year running.

Over 5.15m supporters took to the stands to watch their side across all SPFL competitions in 2023-24, covering the Premiership, Championship, League 1, League 2, League Cup and the SPFL Trust Trophy.

The year-on-year figure marks an increase of 64,122 on the season prior's record high, when the number of people attending SPFL matches surpassed 5m for the first time.

A total of of 4,746,052 fans attended games across the four divisions, with Premiership matches attracting 3,760,765.

Scotland continues to have the best attendances figures per capita across its top four divisions in Europe with 21.3 per 1000 people - 65% ahead of second-placed the Netherlands.

Doncaster said: “After topping five million fans across an SPFL season for the first time in season 2022/23, it is hugely promising to see attendances growing even further this season.

“Our supporters are renowned across the world for their dedication and passion and regularly record the highest per capita attendance in Europe."

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English attempts to sum up another entertaining and incident-packed season of Scottish football.

Listen to the full season review on the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

Ross Morren
Fan writer

Ross County fans were singing in the rain on Sunday as they watched their side secure their top-flight status in style with a 6-1 aggregate victory over Raith Rovers.

The 2-1 victory in the first leg at Stark's Park was the first time County had won outside of Dingwall since 2 September. The Staggies controlled the majority of the match and looked a class above Rovers all over the park.

When Jack Baldwin headed us into a 2-0 lead, it felt like we were cruising towards survival; a far cry from the first leg of last season's play-off final.

The game turned on its head though when Sam Stanton halved the deficit. Rovers piled the pressure on for the remainder of the match, but County ground out a 2-1 victory to send the 500 travelling fans back up the A9 happy.

On Sunday, it felt like the first goal was going to be crucial in the return leg.

Thankfully, Simon Murray put County firmly in control with his 19th-minute header. It relieved a lot of the tension among the home fans and gave the players a huge boost too.

Murray and his strike partner Jordan White were both outstanding on Sunday. Their link-up play and movement caused the Rovers defence all sorts of problems.

White’s goal just after half-time was a carbon copy of Baldwin’s as he outmuscled everyone and bulleted home a header to make it 2-0.

But the best was yet to come.

Following some smart combination play with White, Murray picked up the ball at the edge of the box and smashed it into the far corner to make it 3-0. It was Murray’s 23rd goal of the season, and quite possibly his best.

Despite the scoreline, County fans didn’t want to celebrate survival too early after the comeback they witnessed against Partick Thistle last season, but Brandon Khela's first professional goal finished the job.

The celebrations at full-time were amazing to experience. It’s felt like such a long season, but to end it with such a convincing performance and the news that Don Cowie will be awarded the manager's job permanently makes it all worthwhile.

Ross Morren can be found at The County Corner, external.

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Simon Murray says Ross County showed their fighting spirit in the Premiership play-off final win over Raith Rovers.

Murray scored twice as Don Cowie's side won 6-1 on aggregate, but the 32-year-old says they cannot rest on their laurels going into next season.

"Good to get the job done," he told BBC Scotland after the game.

"After last year in this position and being in it again, we've showed mental toughness; we need to do better.

"Since the gaffer's come in, we've shown we can do it and we need to kick on."

Murray finished with 23 goals for the season, but modestly said it all stems from hard work.

"I base my game on working hard, and if the goals come - which they have this season - it's nice," he added.

We asked for your thoughts after Ross County cruised to victory over Raith Rovers in the Premiership play-off final.

Here's what you had to say:

Les: I don't think Malky Mackay was a bad manager, and I think Don Cowie has done and will do a fantastic job, but I don't think we would've been in this situation this year if Derek Adams hadn't been involved. We could have maybe been pushing for a top-six spot again. This must be our aim for 2024-25.

Simon: Yet another great escape by County! Shame we don't have the resources to hold on to match-winners like Yan Dhanda and Simon Murray, and with loan players returning home, it'll be another rebuild of the squad. Connor Randall deserves a mention; the most consistent player over the season.

Kenny: A really good, professional display from County. Every player on the pitch was a solid eight out of 10. The difference in quality between the Championship and Premiership this year seems a bit more of a gap than usual. Fair play to the Rovers fans - they came in droves and made more noise than us throughout. Best of luck to them next season.

Jim: County were able to control much of the match. Credit to Raith, they forced Laidlaw into several fine saves and their support was excellent right through. Our finishing was excellent and now Don Cowie needs some shrewd signings to lift us from perennial strugglers. We're not too far off being a decent top-flight side. Bring on next season.