'I've loved it' - Cowie reaches year in charge at County

Saturday marks exactly a year since Don Cowie took charge at Ross County, the club where he has deep family roots and his life in football began.

The 40-year-old former midfielder stepped up 12 months ago when Derek Adams' short and chaotic second stint as manager came to an abrupt halt.

After securing their top-flight status via the play-offs, the interim part of Cowie's job title was dropped and a one-year rolling contract issued.

Cowie's tenure began with defeat to Rangers but arguably his most memorable result came against the same opposition last April, leading the Staggies to a first victory over the Ibrox side in County's history, a 3-2 win in Dingwall.

This term brought cup exits to lower-league opposition - with the League Cup shock by fourth-tier Spartans a painful low - while an impressive run of three way wins halted County's long wait for a Premiership road victory in style.

County currently sit second bottom, five points clear of St Johnstone, as they look to extend their top-flight stay to seven seasons.

How does Cowie's record stack up to his predecessors? Across all competitions, he has been in charge for 48 games, winning 16 (33%).

In Stuart Kettlewell's time as solo manager he had a 29% win rate, while Malky Mackay's was 33%, and Adams managed to win just 17% in his short second stint.

Reflecting on his first year in charge of his boyhood club, Cowie told BBC Scotland: "I've loved it. I feel like I have had so much support both internally and externally.

"There's been ups and downs. I've been in football for a long time so I recognise that's what happens.

"It's important to stay calm in those moments and I think that's one of the strengths I have.

"Once the game has been played it's always about learning from it, trying to improve and making everyone better."