Ex Hibs star joins SPFL club for third time as he makes transfer decision ahead of summer window
The former Hibs star will drop from the Premiership to League One level next season.
A former Hibs star has returned to an SPFL club for a third time after leaving his latest Premiership team.
Ross County have endured a nightmare two seasons, entering the Championship last year following Premiership relegation as one of the title favourites, but they ended up falling through the trap door. Stuart Kettlewell is back in their dugout, tasked with an immediate escape mission from League One, and helping spearhead that will be Brian Graham.
His first stint in Dingwall earned him a move to Hibs in 2016, who he won the Championship with, before exiting for Cheltenham Town a year later. Graham would returned to County during 2018 before embarking upon a five-year association with Partick Thistle. After starring up front, managing their women’s side and briefly the first team, Graham joined Falkirk in their top six finish at top flight level. The 38-year-old former Hibs striker now makes a move back up the A9 at the end of his Bairns deal.
Who has Brian Graham signed for?
Kettlewell said: “Brian is someone who has been part of major success at Ross County, and it is really important to have players in the side who understand what this football club is about. Having managed Brian during our double-winning season in 2019, I know exactly what kind of qualities he will bring to our squad, both on and off the park.
“Brian scores goals wherever he goes, and he is someone who has natural leadership and will drive and demand standards from his own game and those around him. We need players who will lead the group heading into the new season, and I am confident Brian will do exactly that while contributing with goals on the park too.
“Brian has shown a willingness to be part of the next chapter of the football club, and I look forward to working with him again.”
Why has Brian Graham signed for Ross County?
Speaking on the move, Graham said: “It has all happened really quickly. Once I spoke to Stuart, the deal was done really quickly. I worked with the manager before. The last two years have obviously not gone as well as everyone wanted. Now we find ourselves in League One.
“The manager spoke to me about getting the culture back at the club and helping some of the younger players, including a young striker who he feels I can help bring on this season. I’ve had success with the manager here before, which was another reason why I wanted to come back to this football club. Last time I was here we got ourselves back to the Premiership. I left for family reasons, to go back down the road. I sat down with the family and had support from them to come back up the road.
“The kids are older now, which makes it a lot easier. When you know you have the support of your family, everything fits well. It’s a club I know extremely well. It’s a club I’ve had success at and a club where I want to continue having success, but let’s be under no illusion, League One will be really tough.”