The board of Ross County Football Club is today (Thursday 25 November 2010) delighted to announce the appointment of Willie McStay as manager.

Willie takes charge at the Dingwall club with immediate effect and will be preparing the first team for Sunday's ALBA Challenge Cup final against Queen of the South in Perth.

Ross County chairman, Roy MacGregor, said:  "We are delighted to have moved quickly to secure the services of a manager of Willie's calibre.

"There has been a huge amount of interest in this post, reflecting the high regard in which this club is held in the football world.  From the candidates we interviewed we feel Willie's experience and approach best suits the club and what we are working to achieve here.

"He obviously joins us in an exciting week with a cup final as his first match in charge, but his clear priority in coming weeks will be progress and consistency in our First Division campaign."

Mr MacGregor added:  "We would like to thank everyone who has expressed an interest in this post.  Our thanks also go to Craig Brewster for taking charge of the team over the past few weeks."

Born in Hamilton, Willie played for Celtic between 1979 and 1987 and also had spells as a player at Huddersfield Town, Notts County and Hartlepool United.

As player-manager of Sligo Rovers between 1992 and 1994, he led the side to a historic treble in the 1993/94 season, winning the Irish First Division title, the First Division Shield and the FAI Cup.

He returned to Celtic in 1994, working as youth team coach for 13 years and as manager of Celtic Reserves between 2007 and 2009.  He managed Hungarian side Újpest FC, in Budapest, from April 2009 until July 2010, before a brief return to Celtic to manage the reserve team.