NEW Ross County boss Tony Docherty has joked he’s been on telly and radio so much recently even Ally McCoist felt he should calm it.
The Staggies gaffer has been a constant presence on the airwaves since his shock sacking by Dundee last May.
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And Doc – even in Bucharest last week as part of the BBC’s Aberdeen coverage – believes touring stadiums, studios and training grounds for the last three months has reinvigorated him for his Ross County return.
He laughed: “I was scheduled for the One Show next week!
“Even Ally McCoist had a word with me and told me to calm down because I was on too much!
“Of course people were mentioning it, telling me I was always either on the golf course or on the telly or radio.
“It all happened naturally but you also have to keep plugged into things.
“I enjoyed a bit of time with my family, of course, because when you get the news it’s disappointing and you need that support network around you.
“But I can’t sit still, I need to keep active and keep doing things.
“I really enjoyed the media work, it was great, it keeps you plugged into what’s happening, going to games, watching players and just being around it.
“So that part of it has been important for me, I wanted to be ready when the next opportunity came up and I feel ready.
“I’ve been active since what happened at Dundee.
“I certainly didn’t expect to be out of the game but you have to get on with it and during that period I’ve worked on developing myself.
“I’ve spent time with Brendan Rodgers, been down south to see David Moyes and spent time at other clubs as well.
“It’s important to see how other people work as part of your self-analysis.
“You have to develop and never stand still because you want to better yourself for when the next chance comes along.
“That involves looking at what you did well and also the things you could have done better.
“So I’ve not been sitting around, I’ve been busy but I feel fresh, energised and motivated.
“I have a new manager energy, I’m probably more motivated now than I was going into my previous job.
“That’s with the experience behind me and I hope that’s something Ross County will get the benefit of.”
Doc was sacked by Dark Blues chief John Nelms hours after keeping Dundee up on the final day.
His top six finish 12 months earlier counted for nothing when the Americans made their decision.
And Docherty, 54, admits he was left emotional by a round of applause from Dundee fans while doing punditry at last weekend’s Dundee derby.
Doc, who will keep John Robertson as his no2, said: “I’m proud of my time at Dundee.
“We finished in the top six in the first season and I think I helped the development of players there.
“The reaction I got on Sunday meant a lot to me, I was a bit choked up by it to be honest.
“I’d like to thank the supporters there for that.
“It’s about the future now and hopefully I can get that synergy and support going between the players and supporters here.
“The way to do that is with an identity and playing style.
“I want to create one that’s front-foot, attacking football at a high tempo.
“The things you learn as well is you have to be well-organised and set behind the ball as well.
“I want to get the fans playing a real part here as well but we have to do that by being aggressive and giving them those triggers.
“We want this to be somewhere where players come to develop and the people I like working with are the ones who want to come in every day desperate to get better.
“When you have that it makes the team better.
“This is a club I’ve always admired and when you speak to previous managers and players here the feedback is always so positive.
“As soon as I had that initial contact with Roy MacGregor and Steven Ferguson then I had a good feeling about it.
“Coming in here, a really ambitious proactive chairman and chief executive who share my ambitions, that was important.
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“You look at the facilities here, the professionalism – it’s very much a Premiership setup.
“I can’t affect what’s happened in the past but I want to be a Premiership manager and to do that with Ross County.”
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