Club Update from Steven Ferguson and Roy MacGregor

The club would like to provide supporters with an update on recent developments.

Speaking on the decision to mutually part ways with Tony Docherty and Callum Davidson, Chief Executive Steven Ferguson explained that it was not taken lightly, but was ultimately driven by performances and results on the pitch.

“When Tony came into the building, we had expectations for what we were looking to achieve,” Ferguson said.

“We’ve clearly not managed to get on that trajectory, which makes original aims unrealistic.

“Football is a results-based business, and when you find yourself isolated at the bottom of the league and after losing 6–0 to another team in the division, there are always going to be conversations, and none of us were ever going to be happy with that.

“It’s difficult to put your finger on one single factor, and there is sympathy for Tony and Callum.

“We can't underestimate the impact of injuries to key players, although we will never use that as an excuse – we have had some serious injuries to the core of the team.

“For Tony and Callum to have to continually shuffle the pack and try to find short-term answers while waiting to get those players back on the pitch was going to be a challenge for anyone.

“John Robertson will take over as interim, and we’re not going to put a date on that,” he continued.

“John is more than capable. He knows the league, he knows the team, and he’s been working with Tony and Callum, so there’s continuity there.

“I’m not going to say it’s for one game or ten games, because at this moment in time, we don’t know.”

As a club, we absolutely acknowledge that the season has not unfolded as planned and that expectations must now be reset.

“We needed to rethink what the target was and what it now needs to be for the football club.”

“We’ve not had the start that we wanted, and we’d be stupid to bury our heads and think the target is still the same.”

“Football is fluid, so it is not unusual for goals to change. Our priority now is to make sure we’re in the Championship next season, and we will build from there.”

Chairman Roy MacGregor also reflected on lessons from recent seasons and the club’s long stay in the Premiership.

“After eleven years in the Premiership, you can start to feel it’s your rightful place.

“Perhaps we didn’t recognise the warning signs that our culture and cause weren’t strong enough to keep us there.

He also addressed the challenge of turning the current group of players into a cohesive and consistent team.

“Everyone I speak to says we’ve assembled a good squad, but we haven’t got them to sing a song – and that’s probably true.

“After 17 games, we’ve had to change tack.

“We wanted to be chasing promotion, now we’re in a survival fight.

“That means changing our attitude to where we are. We need to get a tune out of the current players. If we have to tinker, we’ll tinker.

“On paper, the squad is capable, but anyone watching can see it’s not been a team.

“Why that’s happened is hard to say, but it feels cultural and not so much technical.”

Ferguson concluded: “We recognise we've let people down at 3:00 PM on a Saturday. There’s a big disappointment in that.

“Our Attention turns to stabilising performances for the remainder of the season and ensuring the club is in the strongest possible position heading into the second half of the campaign.”