New Ross County manager John ‘Yogi’ Hughes is determined to prove his doubters wrong and save the club from relegation.
The former Hibs’ boss was a surprise choice after Stuart Kettlewell was sacked at the weekend and his first game in charge will be Wednesday’s match with champions Celtic in Glasgow.
He has enjoyed a relatively successful managerial career, leading Falkirk to a Scottish Cup final, guiding Hibs to a top four place and European football then winning the Scottish Cup and finishing third with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Hughes told County’s YouTube channel: “You wouldn’t believe how much desire I have to try to bring success and prove one or two people wrong.
“It’s not going to be easy, I’ve not got a magic wand, it’s all hands on deck, everybody together, one for all and all for one. I have been in that position and the most important thing is to show courage.
“You can feel sorry for yourself and, in many many ways, it’s about mentality, so I have asked them to show real, strong mental character and give me everything they have got.
“It’s me trying to ignite them and saying ‘this is what I want’ and I have to make it simple for them. It’s small steps.
“First and foremost, I will always be grateful to Inverness for giving me that opportunity and I had a wonderful two-and-a-half years and good success.
“Hopefully we can bring that same success to here, but I have always had a great rapport with the chairman and the people at Ross County.
“I have enjoyed my time off, living the life as they say, seeing the kids growing up. That was a big, big part of me leaving Inverness.
“Now they are at an age where I need to get out, so I am absolutely delighted to get this opportunity.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
