Robbo takes charge at Ross County

FORMER Hearts boss John Robertson has been named manager of Bell's First Division outfit Ross County.

The club confirmed the appointment after the ex- Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss had been strongly linked with the job.

Robertson made the decision to walk away from Hearts - the club where he earned legendary status as a player - last month after turning down the lesser role of assistant head coach.

The Tynecastle club are still searching for his successor, with former Parma boss Nevio Scala and George Burley both in the frame.

Robertson's departure from Hearts was less surprising than that of Alex Smith at Ross County.

The veteran manager was expected to remain at the Highland club and nurture a new player-coach, who would eventually succeed him as boss.

Paul Lambert was just one of the names linked with the new role until he was named as Livingston manager.

But Smith returned from holiday in Australia to be told he no longer had a job at Ross County - on the same day he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list for his services to football.

Chairman, Peter Swanson said: "We were delighted at the quality of the applications received for the post of manager and very pleased to have secured the services of John Robertson as our new manager."

Taken from the Scotsman