Chief executive says former Ross County star Ross Stewart will hit no ceiling
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Steven Ferguson expects former Ross County striker Ross Stewart to continue to improve in years to come.
The 25-year-old striker has had a fantastic season at Sunderland, finishing joint-top the English League One scoring charts and finding the net in the play-off final as the Black Cats won promotion.
Stewart also kept his place in the national team’s squad for the current window, which kicks off with a play-off of their own against Ukraine as Scotland attempt to qualify for the World Cup later this year.
An international debut would be fitting reward for the striker as he prepares to step up to the English Championship, and his former manager in Dingwall has no doubt that he will rise to the challenge.
“Both Stuart (Kettlewell) and I have said it, Ross still has two or three more gears to go,” Ferguson insisted.
“We feel that his trajectory has been an upwards one, and it’s continuing to climb.
“There’s not really any ceiling for Ross with the attributes that he’s got and the attitude that he’s got.
“Ross will understand that and know that this is a fantastic opportunity for him to kick on again.”
It is now four years since Ferguson and Kettlewell brought Stewart to County.
Stewart is the latest in a string of talent to get a platform to develop with the Staggies, but Ferguson says credit for his success has to go to the player himself.
“It’s exactly what we want to do at this football club,” County’s chief executive officer added.
“It was Stuart and I that brought Ross in, but managers have given platforms to players before, and Malky (Mackay) is doing it now.
“Stuart and I were no different – we gave Ross the platform, but you can only offer the platform.
“It’s then up to players to grasp the opportunity, and Ross certainly is the latest one to really grasp that opportunity and further his own career.
“We certainly enjoyed having him when we did have him at Ross County.”
