Ross County axe came too soon - McIntyre
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The 45-year-old, who guided the Dingwall club to Scottish League Cup glory in March 2016, was sacked on Monday along with assistant Billy Dodds following a poor start to the season.
One win from seven in the Ladbrokes Premiership, combined with an exit from the Betfred Cup, less than impressed chairman Roy MacGregor, who felt there were not enough signs that improvement was around the corner.
Saturday’s game at rock bottom Kilmarnock could see them climb back towards mid-table or drop into 12th position depending on that result and what 11th-placed Partick do at Motherwell.
Following Saturday’s 1-0 league loss to Hibs at the Global Energy Stadium, McIntyre was at pains to point out that during his three years in charge at Dingwall, when the tough has got going he’s managed to turn it around.
He came in and saved the club from relegation with a stunning escape act and an overall poor season last term ended with the side finishing eight games unbeaten as they finished seventh.
Speaking about his dismissal from the hot-seat, former Dundee United forward McIntyre pointed to the fact they’ve already faced some of the country’s top teams in recent weeks.
He said: "I’m pretty shocked, I’ve got to be honest – really disappointed.
"I think it is a very harsh decision, particularly when you have had a run of fixtures like the ones we’ve had.
"The chairman said the home form needed to be better. Well, we’ve had Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibs in Dingwall. I know certain games could have been better, but you have seen the chances we have created.
"We’ve seen the players bursting their backsides, coming back into games, showing good spirit. When you have a group of players like that, the dressing room is together.
"Normally, when a manager gets the sack it is because they are haemorrhaging three or four goals every week and the dressing room is split. We had none of that and were putting so much into games, but the fine margins of putting the ball in the net and keeping it out were just missing for us
"But there was a lot to suggest it wasn’t far from turning. I think it is way too early to make this kind of call."
McIntyre also asked what should be considered a success at Ross County.
He continued: "We finished seventh, sixth and won a major trophy, as well as the job we did in the first season in keeping them up. You start to ask yourself ‘what is success?’.
The magnificent League Cup win little over a year ago will never be forgotten by County fans after they sensationally beat Celtic in the semis before returning to the National Stadium to clinch a last-gasp 2-1 win against Hibs.
McIntyre, though gutted by the chairman’s decision, walks away from the north with his head held high.
He said: "I’ve really enjoyed my time at County. It has been a brilliant three years. Every year we’ve had success. Success for Ross County is staying in the league and to win the cup was an unbelievable occasion for everyone.
"I’ve had a brilliant relationship with Roy MacGregor, but I do feel really harshly treated. Making a decision this early (in the season), I really don’t understand it. I feel it is extremely harsh considering the run of fixtures.
"Our target this year was between seventh and ninth. If you beat Killie then you are within that target. That’s how harsh it is given the type of fixtures we’ve had and how close we’ve been to winning a couple of them."
