Tearful Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor eyes European dream after top six success
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ROSS County chairman Roy MacGregor admits even he was taken by surprise as he broke down in tears at Pittodrie at the weekend.
Amid fervent dressing room celebrations, the club’s chairman and longstanding financier was overcome by emotion as he made his address to the players after they secured top six success.
MacGregor, for all his time-proven feeling for the Dingwall club, has never been one to let emotions get the better of him publicly.
On Saturday, though, it was all a bit too much for the 69-year-old Global Energy chief after being called into the inner sanctum by Mackay.
“There was a bit of high jinks and celebration, but Malky asked me to say a few words,” MacGregor said. “For the first time in my life I broke down. I didn’t see it coming.
“I just looked in that dressing room and saw the eyes of young people that were on a journey. They have all come from different parts of the country, but it wasn’t one or two players that carried us, it was all of them as one.
“Tears were running down my cheeks and my voice was gone. I don’t even remember what I said. I don’t usually do that, but it was not for me – it was for them.
“They are young lads who have got a bond and a camaraderie that has carried them far beyond their technical ability. They are growing and getting better, and the manager is getting the best out of them.”
As late as December last year, County remained bottom of the table. Recovery saw them become one of the strongest-form sides outside the Old Firm, while their energy and developing style of play singled them out as one of the most exciting County sides in recent memory.
Well-publicised past misdemeanours at Cardiff City meant MacGregor courted controversy on appointing Mackay, despite the new manager having taken diversity and equality courses and become SFA performance director.
The chairman’s view was straightforward: Mackay was rehabilitated and of a managerial calibre County could barely have dreamed of appointing ordinarily. Scenes at Pittodrie suggest a sizeable number of fans are now on board.
“There were a lot of question marks at the start of the journey, but we have got all we expected – and there is a lot more to come,” the chairman said.
“Supporters see a team spirit and camaraderie. The belief from the board to the fans has been consistent. That’s where you get winning teams. We have turned ourselves into a very formidable unit.
“We are now planning two windows ahead and I think you will see far more structure and rationale behind future recruitment.
“Where we are is a reward after a challenging start when we were hit by Covid. Even in the first 10 games, we were playing better than our results.
“In the last 23 games our points return is very good and, with five games to go, there is now the chance to get ourselves into Europe for the very first time.”
