John Robertson Returns to Scottish Football as Ross County Appoint New Assistant Manager
Heart of Midlothian icon John Robertson has made his return to Scottish football, taking on the role of assistant manager at Ross County.
The legendary former striker — who remains Hearts’ all-time leading league goal scorer — has been brought in by the Dingwall club to support manager Don Cowie as they prepare for life back in the Championship following relegation from the Premiership.
Ross County suffered the drop after losing their play-off tie against Livingston, but club leadership is sticking with Cowie for the upcoming campaign. In an effort to rebuild quickly and mount a strong challenge for promotion, the club has moved swiftly to bolster the backroom team.
Robertson, who has previously worked with Cowie, brings a wealth of experience to the role. He is no stranger to Championship football, having managed Inverness Caledonian Thistle from 2017 to 2021 and serving briefly as interim boss in 2023.
Ross County CEO Steve Ferguson outlined the club’s ambitions:
“Everyone here is determined to give ourselves the best chance of returning to the Premiership at the first time of asking. Bringing John in to support Don will help us reshape the squad and get back on track as quickly as possible.”
In an official club statement, Ross County acknowledged the deep disappointment felt after their relegation:
“Last week’s result against Livingston — meaning we’ll be in the Championship next season — has been tough to accept. We know how important Premiership football is to our community, and we share the frustration of our supporters.
“We’ve spent the past week reflecting on how to move forward and have decided to restructure the football department with a clear focus on immediate promotion.
“We are fully behind Don Cowie, who we believe is the right person to lead the club next season. To assist him, we’ve appointed the experienced John Robertson as assistant manager, effective immediately.”
As part of this shake-up, Carl Tremarco and Paul Cowie will leave their roles this summer. The club expressed gratitude for their service and wished them the best for the future.
Robertson’s appointment is seen as a strategic move. With over 400 games in management, he understands the unique challenges of building a competitive side from the Highlands and has a strong track record in the second tier. Having worked alongside Don Cowie before, he is already familiar with the club and its ethos, and even kept a close eye on Scottish football last season as a BBC pundit.
With the new management structure in place, Ross County are aiming to bounce back swiftly and restore their Premiership status.
