Malky Mackay hopeful of keeping Ross County star Regan Charles-Cook in Dingwall next season – but concedes that money could tempt him elsewhere
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Malky Mackay has admitted higher offers from elsewhere could lure Regan Charles-Cook away from Dingwall this summer.
The Grenada international has shone for Ross County this season, leading the Premiership scoring charts with 13 goals to his name as the Staggies launched a bid for the top six.
With such dazzling displays will naturally come interest in a player who is out of contract at the end of the season.
The Staggies manager has previously indicated talks were ongoing with a number of players whose deals were set to expire, but while several have signed extensions in recent weeks it is notable that Charles-Cook was not among them.
While not completely ruling out the possibility that the fan-favourite could stay at County next season, Mackay admitted that he would be powerless to stop Charles-Cook leaving if he decided a better offer had come in from elsewhere.
"He's in a situation where he's out of contract in the summer, and he has scored a lot of goals, so he's going to attract attention," Mackay reasoned.
"He will have as many options as he and his agent decides to have in the summer. What we do is speak to him on a regular basis, him and his agent, and it has been a very amicable conversation with the club in terms of what we can offer.
"Then it's up to an individual to decide if the grass is greener somewhere else. Everybody has their own thoughts on what they do with their own career, at the end of the day it really is down to what an individual thinks is best for their next step.
"Nobody has a crystal ball, so you can go and do something and think it will work, and it does, and it moves you on to something else so that when you look back on your career you say you were glad you did that – or you can say you wish you didn't do that. There are so many factors involved in that, there is no right or wrong answer.
"We could say Regan should stay here, in this environment, and become an even more well-rounded player and get even more experience here, which would take him to another level.
"At the end of the day money talks. If someone decided that they're going to double his wages, what can you do? Anybody would have to look at that.
"Genuinely, at the moment, we've got Steven (Ferguson) talking to some agents. We discuss things every day."
Duo sign contract extensions
Two players who have put pen to paper on new deals in Dingwall this week are Connor Randall and Ben Paton.
Randall saw his first season at County disrupted by injury, but has proven himself to be a reliable option on either side of defence throughout 2021/22.
Paton, the younger brother of County midfielder Harry, was thrown into the side out of position at the beginning of the campaign due to injuries, and has since had to be patient as he waits for his opportunity in the middle of the park.
Mackay, though, was delighted to tie both men down on extended contracts, believing the core of his squad is now in place for next season.
"We have now signed seven or eight in the last few weeks, so I'm delighted," he said.
"It's really good, we're starting to get a structure and a base. It was a tough start last year in terms of revamping the whole squad, so to have seven or eight now committing and wanting to be here is terrific.
"Ben has come in from Blackburn after we looked at him on a trial basis, and I liked what I saw. He is young and has a lot to learn, but at the same time there are really good raw attributes there.
"He's a terrific young man and a top professional. He's low maintenance and very comfortable on the ball – one of the most comfortable at the club.
"Ben had a baptism of fire when we had to throw him in at left-back in some big games, but he acquitted himself very well. I want to give him his chance in midfield eventually, but he's a young man with a longer term future at the club, so I am delighted to get him in.
"Connor has, quietly, been one of the real leaders in the dressing room. He has shown a level of consistency that I love and trains the way he plays. He's one of the first to speak up at our debriefs.
"He's probably finding his most consistent level of fitness and performance in the last few years after it was a bit stop-start, but in terms of the way he's applied himself in terms of fitness and training and the aftercare we deal with in terms of his body, it means he's playing more football now than he's probably ever played.
"I am delighted to have someone like Connor, who is an ambassador for our club. He's another player who youngsters should look to in terms of how he acts every day."
