Willie McStay
Management Godfather Alex Smith has hit out at Ross County’s decision to dismiss Willie McStay.
The former Celtic coach was axed on Saturday after nine games in charge of the First Division club.
Smith was in charge of Ross County for three years but despairs at the mentality that is burning up managers in record time.
“I am very disappointed and shocked,” Smith told the stv website about the decision to axe McStay. “It was a big surprise when I read about it and I’m disappointed for Willie.
“It’s quite ridiculous actually. Honestly, it really has to stop. Being a manager or coach is a very difficult profession.
“It takes time to get things going the way you want it within a club. It is a ridiculously short time that and it is very, very disappointing.
“The need is to stay in that particular league and stay full-time panics people. I’m afraid it’s panicked Ross County. Now Ross County have been through it before but it’s no excuse.
“It’s only nine games ago since they went through all the usual procedures to appoint the manager and they appointed a very experienced coach.
“Everyone would agree that it looked a very shrewd move at the time. Now there’s something happened in between that’s not coming to the fore. Ross County can’t continually do that.
“They’ve had a record in recent years of sacking managers when they’ve been reasonably successful. It has to stop within the game. The managers and coaches association are going to do something about it. We are not going to stand by and let managers be treated in this way.”
General Manager George Adams has taken control of the club which will come as no surprise to most folk in the game.
Adams has had spells at Aberdeen, Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers without staying around long enough to appreciate the ‘benefits’ of his work.
For anyone that will listen to him the coaching guru was solely responsible for discovering and developing everyone in Scottish football from Kenny Dalglish to Jamie Ness not to forget, Aiden McGeady, James McFadden, John Fleck and Lionel Messi in between times.
Smith is from the old school of management and after winning trophies at St Mirren and Aberdeen knows that time is essential if any manager is to stand a chance.
He added: “Ross County had success last year in getting to the Scottish Cup final and maybe that kind of success has worked against them this year.
“In Willie’s nine games, they went to Dundee United and drew in a Scottish Cup tie, drew in the replay and took them to extra time and lost on penalty kicks, which is no mean achievement.
“You’ve got to be given time as a manager. You’ve got to be given time within a club to get to know the moods of the club, the feel of the club, the feel of the supporters and the players have got to respond.
“Whoever made that decision, I assume it was the chairman, it was a knee jerk decision and it’s tactical. Hopefully, they get a manager in who gets a couple of results and takes them away from the bottom of the league.”
Iain Brines in charge of Celtic v Rangers clash
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