OWEN Coyle is an easy target right now.

The 51-year-old walked out on Ross County this week after just five months in charge. Five months, it must be said, that will not be remembered fondly in the Highlands.

He took over with the club in 10th place and leaves them rock bottom, three points adrift of the relegation play-off spot and five away from guaranteed safety.

Read more: Owen Coyle walks out of Ross County and it feels a long time since he was wanted by Celtic

What is left of Coyle’s reputation as a manager is disappearing fast after what was statistically the worst job of his career.  He departs with a win percentage of just over 18 %, four victories in 22 games, coming on the back of disappointing tenures at Blackburn, Houston Dynamo and Wigan. The critics are more vociferous than ever.

Sacking Jim McIntyre was a bold decision by club chairman Roy McGregor back in September and one that caught many neutral onlookers off guard. This was the man, after all, who had led the Staggies to a League Cup triumph and into the top six.

But McGregor had witnessed McIntyre’s 14-month long struggle to turn around an abysmal run of form and recognised that a change was needed.

Coyle turned out to be the wrong option, but all the talk of managerial changes has overshadowed the biggest obstacle standing between the Staggies and salvation – the dire performances of the 11 players chosen to represent the club on match day.

Stuart Kettlewell, who led the Under-20s to a stunning Development League title last season, will take charge for the rest of the season alongside academy director Steven Ferguson.

They are a duo with no full-time senior management experience to speak of, but they do possess something that many of the current squad lack; deep roots with the club and pride at wearing the stag’s head on their chest.  

Experience may be lacking, but the ability to motivate the dressing room and remind a struggling squad of their responsibilities may be something the dynamic duo can offer that Coyle could not.

Far too often this season, individual errors have plagued County’s performances. Costly errors at the back, a midfield lacking fight and a toothless attack have landed the club in this mess.

The Staggies emerged from a 13-game winless run to beat Dundee 4-1 a month ago before recording a creditable 1-1 draw with Hearts, but an insipid display at McDiarmid Park last weekend saw the familiar criticisms return: no hunger, no fight, no motivation.

When Michael Gardyne, the club’s all-time record appearance holder and goalscorer, is hitting the headlines for sordid dressing room antics in the midst of a survival scrap, you would be forgiven for thinking that something is seriously wrong.

It is time for the likes of Gardyne, a club legend in his own right, and club captain Andrew Davies – injured or not – to step up as leaders and ensure every member of their squad takes full responsibility for their performances for the remainder of the season.

Kettlewell’s first job will be to get this squad fired up again. There is enough talent there to get out of this mess and a win at home to Partick Thistle would be a major step towards that goal.

The former midfielder was a hero on the pitch for this club during his playing days, helping County to the Scottish Cup final and their maiden promotion to the Premiership.

The current squad must take inspiration from a man who never gave an inch on the pitch.

He sweated blood to get them to the top-flight, so maybe it was fate that he has been tasked with keeping them there. But he can’t do it on his own.