Ross County Ready to Storm Back to the Scottish Premiership
Ross County head into the 2025–26 Scottish Championship season as the clear team to beat.
After suffering relegation from the Premiership last season, the Highlanders have wasted no time regrouping, revamping the squad, and laying down a marker in pre-season.
And it's no shock that the staggies are favourites with the betting sites to make an immediate return to the top-tier of Scottish football.
Here at Free Bets, we've taken a closer look at why County are the favourites to win the Scottish Championship.
With smart recruitment, strong leadership, and impressive early results, County look every inch a title-winning outfit, and their summer transfer window has been hugely encouraging.
Manager Don Cowie, now in his first full season in charge, has built a balanced and deep squad.
The return of experienced centre-back Declan Gallagher adds steel to the defence, while Ben Crompton (formerly of Sunderland) and Irish youngster Len O'Sullivan have strengthened the full-back positions.
The new defensive line will complement key returnees, such as captain Connor Randall and promising academy graduate Andrew MacLeod, who has recently signed a new deal.
In midfield, County have added real authority and energy. Ross Docherty has joined from Dundee United, as has Jamie Lindsay – back at the club where he won promotion in 2019, while Dean Cornelius adds youth and drive from Harrogate.
It's a midfield full of leadership, experience, and mobility.
Going forward, County look dangerous - Gary Mackay-Steven brings bags of experience on the wing, while new arrival Adam Emslie – just 20 but highly rated – offers pace and flair.
Northern Ireland international Ronan Hale remains the key striker, fresh off an 18-goal campaign, and is supported by proven forwards like Nicky Clark and Kieran Phillips.
That mix of proven scorers and creative support gives County a forward line capable of blowing teams away.
Off the pitch, there's been an important appointment too.
Former Inverness and Hearts boss John Robertson has been brought in as assistant manager to support Cowie.
His experience will be vital in guiding a squad full of both veterans and young talents. The club's leadership has faith in this setup – and that belief seems well-placed.
County won all three friendlies without conceding a goal, including a 5–0 demolition of Strathspey Thistle and a 2–0 win over local rivals Inverness.
Then came a massive statement - an 8–0 thrashing of Edinburgh City in the League Cup – County's biggest win in 15 years - Hale bagged a hat-trick in that one, and the whole squad looked sharp, hungry, and full of purpose.
Other results in the group stages of the League Cup could have been better, but the league is where the Staggies will aim to be fully focused on this season.
Cowie's philosophy is straightforward: keep clean sheets, utilise the squad's attacking depth, and take control of matches.
His message is getting through, and there's a real buzz around Dingwall as the new campaign approaches.
With smart signings, strong leadership on and off the pitch, and serious momentum already building, Ross County are rightly tipped as favourites to win the Championship.
If they maintain this level of performance and keep key players fit, it's hard to see anyone stopping them from bouncing straight back to the Premiership.
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