Ross County transfer business ideally not done as Hibernian match complicates deadline dealings

Ross County manager Malky Mackay said there could be more comings and goings before the transfer window closes, but admits a deadline day game complicates things.

Already this month, Nohan Kenneh, Josh Stones and Eamonn Brophy have moved to Dingwall on loan deals, while Callum Johnson has left permanently and others have left on loan.

Any further deals must be completed before midnight on Tuesday, but with Hibernian making the trip to the Highlands tomorrow night for a Premier League game, time is even more limited for Mackay to get negotiations over the line.

Malky Mackay says Hibernian will make transfer matters more difficult – but he is still hopeful of more new arrivals before the deadline.

“It’s happened before, and it’s not great,” he reasoned.

“I’ve had many years where that day and that night get really hectic with incomings and the odd outgoing.

“I remember at Watford we had the possibility that our star striker Danny Graham would go that night – in the end I just turned my phone off and went to bed, thinking I’d wake up in the morning to find out whether he’d gone or not . He didn’t, which was good because I kept my center forward.

“We were with people trying to sign us, trying to rush through paperwork.

“If the deadline falls on a Tuesday or a Wednesday night, there’s always the chance you’ll have a game, and we tried to move this one to no avail. We’ll just deal with it and get on with it.”

While some managers are not fans of the January transfer window, Mackay has no major objection to the potential disruption – he believes it is a better system than the old way where transfers can be made at any time of the season.

However, there is a different approach to be taken in January compared to summer, especially with the temptation to overspend to reverse a season that needs to be cut short.

“I can see why there’s a period because the free for all that used to happen suited the rich clubs,” explained Mackay.

“I don’t mind there being a transfer window. It could be interesting if there was a window for managers as well, which was actually floated at some point.

“The January one is very different from the summer.

“There are a lot of knee-jerk things that happen, especially at the end of the window and there are stories everywhere of owners who get carried away at 11.30pm who finally come to their senses a month later.

“This is a dangerous time for clubs, and over a period of years you need to get a department in place where there is structure and stability, and succession planning.

“There is obvious gambling that takes place because of league positions, but it is an interesting time.

“I try not to get too carried away and I stopped watching Sky Sports News on that night a long time ago because there is a lot of sensationalism.”

Want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.