Stuart Kettlewell: Ross County's relegation is a result of poor season
Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell admitted the club have not been good enough all season following their relegation from the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The Staggies were held to a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone but for most of the afternoon it looked as though they might sneak into the relegation play-off having taken an early lead.
Partick Thistle's win at Dundee meant County's result was irrelevant and David Wotherspoon ended any slim hopes of a miraculous recovery with a well-taken leveller late on.
Kettlewell only took over in March with co-manager Steven Ferguson and he was quick to point out that the team's failure to escape the drop was not down to the result in Perth.
'It's (relegation) what happens over the course of the season and it's not been good enough from our point of view,'' said Kettlewell, who succeeded Owen Coyle.
'We have won six games all season and it's not good enough. You will be in this position if you only win six games all season.
'From myself and Steven's point of view, we will 100 per cent take responsibility from our 10 games in charge and we don't start to point fingers at individuals.
'It's about what you do as a football club and that unity builds success and we have to go away and assess that and see how we can move forward.'
Craig Curran scored in the third minute and the visitors held on to that lead until almost the last kick of the game.
Kris Doolan's goal at Dens Park midway through the second half ended all hope of a play-off spot, despite an improved performance from the Staggies.
Wotherspoon's late goal added further misery, and Kettlewell added: 'Everybody is down and nobody feels good about themselves at the moment.
'The emotion is a bit raw at the minute, it wasn't the scenario we wanted, we knew it was a possibility, but nothing will prepare you for it or make it any better whatever anyone says.
'We will have to take what happened today, go away and regroup and think about how we move forward as a football club.
'It's all going to change a lot in the coming months but, from my point of view, we need to take what happened today.'
Saints boss Tommy Wright, whose side finished eighth after the draw, added: 'I knew with the crowd reaction that Partick had scored.
'I have sympathy, nobody likes to see it. Somebody has to be relegated and the unfortunate thing with relegation is I know there will be job losses.
'Maybe it won't affect some players who can find another club, but it's the staff around the club that you have to feel sorry for.'