Management team aim to push the buttons of misfiring County

With the Ross County squad still reeling from the departure of Owen Coyle it's now the task of Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson to motivate a pool of players who have under-performed for much of this season.

Players, fans and pundits alike could spend many an hour deliberating why it has come to be that the Dingwall club find themselves at the foot of the Premiership, but one half of the interim management team believes re-visiting the past isn't a worthwhile exercise.

Steven Ferguson - himself a former County player, making over 170 appearances for the Staggies - doesn't pull any punches.

"There is a good group of players here, but the situation's black-and-white, we know the position we're in, because we haven't performed"

Co-manager Stuart Kettlewell agrees, but says it's far from doom-and-gloom given what's at their disposal.

"We know the quality is there... we just need to push the right buttons and get the players to show that more often" - Stuart Kettlewell, co-manager Ross County

"I don't think we're looking much beyond that 10 game period, but the Dundee performance in recent times was an obvious stand-out. We need to be able to replicate that on a regular basis"

"If we can do that - and the players know that - then we'll give ourselves a good chance of avoiding relegation"

"We know the quality is there - we've seen that - we just need to push the right buttons and get the players to show that more often"

"We're not looking for excuses - we have to sit up and take responsibility - we accept where we are, but we need to find that formula that gets us out of the position we're in"

At present, County are only three points adrift from Partick Thistle and five points from Hamilton at the foot of the Premiership, but games are running out, something Steven Ferguson is aware of. Having been a big part of Ross County's battle up the leagues, Fergie's not willing to quickly relinquish what the club have achieved.

"You can't get away from the fact there's loads of pressure, given that there was so much work which went on over the years to get us up into the position as a Premiership side"

"This is where we feel the club should be and we'll do everything we can to make sure we stay there"

"We need to fight with everything we've got - give every ounce - and we'll leave no stone unturned, we know the simplicity of that 10 game period to save our season"

Kettlewell won the First Division at County, as well as the Challenge Cup, and believes a step in the right direction would be three points at Rugby Park this weekend against the re-invigorated Kilmarnock.

"We need to fight with everything we've got... we know the simplicity of that 10 game period to save our season" - Steven Ferguson, co-manager Ross County

"There's a respect for what they've done, but we've traditionally done well down there and I think there's little aspects you can look towards for inspiration ahead of the match"

"That said, ultimately it's what we do on the day. There are scraps to be had, but we have to show a calm head and we have to show that quality - even though it's a relegation battle - we need to show a bit of quality, especially in the final third, and go and express ourselves"

In the last four seasons County have won all games bar one on league duty at Rugby Park.

Ferguson feels that Killie have been one of the stand-outs - having previously been touted for relegation at the start of the season.

"Kilmarnock have done fantastically well since Stevie Clarke came in. They've turned their season around - just like we want to do now"

"He's found a way for them to play and to get the best out of every single player within that squad - just like that challenge is for us now in our remaining 10 games"