Toiling SPFL club on hunt for another manager as spectacular fall from grace highlighted by drubbing

The Dingwall side have announced that Docherty - who was only appointed back in September - and his assistant boss Callum Davidson have left the club with immediate effect.

The Staggies embarked on an alarming run of form under Docherty, winning just two of 13 Championship matches. County are currently bottom of the division, two points behind ninth-placed Queen’s Park, and the heavy defeat at Stark’s Park was the final straw for the board.

A statement from Ross County, released on Sunday morning, read: “Ross County Football Club can confirm it has agreed by mutual consent to part ways with manager Tony Docherty and assistant manager Callum Davidson following Saturday’s heavy defeat.

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to both Tony and Callum for their efforts during their time at the football club. We will provide a further update to supporters in due course.”

Ross County brought in former Dundee manager Docherty to replace Don Cowie, who was sacked in August after a poor start to the campaign on the back of relegation from the Premiership via the play-offs. However, the 54-year-old was unable to revive the ailing Highlands club’s fortunes and leaves after 102 days in post.

County were one of the favourites to win the league this season but are now fighting relegation. The result at Stark’s Park made Docherty’s position untenable for many of the club’s supporters and they are now looking for their third permanent manager of the season.

Docherty struggles with inherited squad

Speaking straight after the hammering in Kirkcaldy, Docherty said: “I made a point of going over to the fans and apologising for that inept performance.

“I saw a team that’s got a higher work ethic, more desire, outworked our players and it’s so easy to score against us. It was a really bad day, poor result and poor performance. They had eight shots on target and scored six goals, it’s too easy to score against us and that’s the problem.

“I’m watching players who don’t match the desire of their opponent’s time and time again and that’s why I apologised to the fans who pay good money to come and watch them and they watched them surrender to the opposition.

“But listen, that’s the players I inherited but I know what I want to do. I feel for the fans and they don’t deserve to see a team that’s outworked. Raith outfought, outran our players. That’s not a team that represents me as a manager.”

Ross County return to action on Saturday when they host Arbroath in the Championship at the Global Energy Stadium.