Derek Adams
Manager Profile

Manager Details

  • Full Name: Derek Watt Adams
  • Born: June 25th, 1975 (Glasgow)
  • Former Player: Derek Adams
  • First Appointed: October 4th, 2007


Managerial History


Spell 1 - Oct 4th, 2007 to Nov 25th, 2010

Most Appearances Top Scorers
1. Martin Scott - 122
2. Scott Boyd - 115
3. Michael Gardyne - 111
4. Paul Lawson - 108
5. Richard Brittain - 107
6. Alex Keddie - 101
7. Scott Morrison - 92
8. Gary Miller - 85
9. Steven Craig - 82
10. Michael McGovern - 70
1. Andrew Barrowman - 32
2. Steven Craig - 26
3. Sean Higgins - 24
4. Michael Gardyne - 21
5. Richard Brittain - 17
6. Garry Wood - 12
7. Paul Lawson - 11
8. Paul Di Giacomo - 9
9. Martin Scott - 9
10. Dene Shields - 9

First Match In Charge
Oct 6th, 2007 2 - 1 vs. Brechin City, League (Second Division)

Last Match In Charge
Nov 20th, 2010 4 - 1 vs. Deveronvale, Scottish Cup

Total Players Used:
51 (56 including unused subs)

Biggest Win(s)
Feb 6th, 2010 9 - 0 vs. Stirling Albion, Scottish Cup (5th Round)

Heaviest Defeat(s)
Nov 13th, 2010 0 - 3 vs. Dundee, League (First Division)
Aug 28th, 2010 0 - 3 vs. Queen of the South, League (First Division)
May 15th, 2010 0 - 3 vs. Dundee United, Scottish Cup (Final)
May 1st, 2010 1 - 4 vs. Raith Rovers, League (First Division)
Mar 30th, 2010 0 - 3 vs. Inverness Caledonian Thistle, League (First Division)
Dec 13th, 2008 1 - 4 vs. Livingston, League (First Division)

Overall Record

Games Won Drawn Lost For Against
147 71 32 44 244 181
(48.3%) (21.8%) (29.9%)

At Home

Games Won Drawn Lost For Against
79 40 19 20 156 97
(50.6%) (24.1%) (25.3%)

Spell 2 - May 19th, 2011 to Aug 28th, 2014

Most Appearances Top Scorers
1. Richard Brittain - 119
2. Scott Boyd - 114
3. Rocco Quinn - 102
4. Grant Munro - 87
5. Stuart Kettlewell - 86
6. Michael Fraser - 77
7. Iain Vigurs - 74
8. Paul Lawson - 61
9. Colin McMenamin - 60
10. Mihael Kovacevic - 48
1. Richard Brittain - 30
2. Colin McMenamin - 21
3. Michael Gardyne - 18
4. Iain Vigurs - 16
5. Rocco Quinn - 11
6. Melvin De Leeuw - 10
7. Stuart Kettlewell - 9
8. Ivan Sproule - 8
9. Sam Morrow - 7
10. Steven Craig - 6

First Match In Charge
Jul 23rd, 2011 1 - 2 vs. Elgin City, Challenge Cup (1st Round)

Last Match In Charge
Aug 26th, 2014 2 - 1 vs. Stranraer, League Cup

Total Players Used:
59 (65 including unused subs)

Biggest Win(s)
Jan 7th, 2012 7 - 0 vs. Stenhousemuir, Scottish Cup (4th Round)

Heaviest Defeat(s)
Aug 13th, 2014 0 - 4 vs. Partick Thistle, League (Premiership)
Aug 17th, 2013 0 - 4 vs. St Johnstone, League (Premiership)
Dec 22nd, 2012 0 - 4 vs. Celtic, League (SPL)
Aug 13th, 2011 1 - 5 vs. Hamilton Academical, League (First Division)

Overall Record

Games Won Drawn Lost For Against
130 51 36 43 193 175
(39.2%) (27.7%) (33.1%)

At Home

Games Won Drawn Lost For Against
67 30 18 19 108 77
(44.8%) (26.9%) (28.4%)

Spell 3 - Nov 20th, 2023 to Feb 7th, 2024

Most Appearances Top Scorers
1. James Brown - 12
2. Yan Dhanda - 12
3. Jordan White - 12
4. Simon Murray - 12
5. Josh Sims - 9
6. Will Nightingale - 9
7. Ryan Leak - 8
8. George Harmon - 8
9. Ben Purrington - 7
10. Jack Baldwin - 7
1. Simon Murray - 3
2. Yan Dhanda - 2
3. Ben Purrington - 1
4. Jordan White - 1

First Match In Charge
Nov 25th, 2023 0 - 0 vs. Kilmarnock, League (Premiership)

Last Match In Charge
Feb 6th, 2024 0 - 5 vs. Motherwell, League

Total Players Used:
28 (30 including unused subs)

Biggest Win(s)
Dec 5th, 2023 3 - 0 vs. Motherwell, League (Premiership)

Heaviest Defeat(s)
Feb 6th, 2024 0 - 5 vs. Motherwell, League (Premiership)

Overall Record

Games Won Drawn Lost For Against
12 2 3 7 8 20
(16.7%) (25.0%) (58.3%)

At Home

Games Won Drawn Lost For Against
7 2 1 4 4 8
(28.6%) (14.3%) (57.1%)

Biography

In 2006, Adams returned to Ross County as player/coach. In November 2007, Adams was promoted to the role of player/manager, having served as caretaker manager since October.

Despite the terms of Adams' appointment, his last playing appearance was in October 2007. He led Ross County to the Scottish Second Division championship in 2008, earning promotion to the First Division. Adams then led Ross County to the 2010 Scottish Cup Final, causing upset victories over SPL sides Hibernian and Celtic. County lost 3-0 to Dundee United in the Final.

Adams left Ross County on 11 November 2010 to join Hibernian as assistant manager to Colin Calderwood.

Adams left Hibernian on 19 May 2011 to return to Ross County as manager.

In his first season back at County, Adams guided the club to the 2011-12 Scottish First Division championship and promotion to the Scottish Premier League. County clinched the championship with five games to spare.

Adams was elected PFA Scotland Manager of the Year for the 2011-12 season.

Before the 2012-13 season, Adams made seven signings, all of which were free agents. After three draw and one win, Adams was named SPL manager of the month for August. The club's 40-match unbeaten league was ended by a 2-1 defeat to St. Johnstone; Adams said he was very proud of achieving such a long run without defeat.

In November 2012, Adams appointed Neale Cooper, who had just left Hartlepool United, as his assistant manager. Ross County struggled during the autumn of 2012, but Adams expected the club to avoid relegation. In late-December the club began a winning streak, that eventually led to a top-six finish. In the January 2013 transfer window, Adams offloaded nine players and made six new signings.

The winning streak continued, which resulted Adams receiving manager of the month awards for January and February.

Adams was nominated for PFA Scotland Manager of the Year, but lost out to Allan Johnston. At the end of the 2012-13 season, Adams signed a new contract with the club.

Ross County struggled for much of the 2013-14 season, but managed to avoid a relegation playoff with one game to spare. After four defeats to start the 2014-15 season, Adams was sacked by the club.


Players Signed

New Players Transferred In
Player Date Signed Fee
1. Allan Creer Feb 20th, 2008
2. Graham Girvan Apr 1st, 2008
3. Steven Craig May 6th, 2008
4. Scott Morrison May 6th, 2008
5. Peter Donnelly Jul 1st, 2008
6. Steven Watt Jul 1st, 2008
7. Richard Brittain Jul 1st, 2008
8. Adam Strachan Jul 1st, 2008
9. Dyron Daal Jul 1st, 2008
10. Brent Sancho Aug 1st, 2008
11. Derek Soutar Sep 1st, 2008
12. John Stewart Jan 4th, 2009
13. Martyn Corrigan Feb 2nd, 2009
14. Craig Brewster Feb 5th, 2009
15. Paul Di Giacomo Jun 1st, 2009
16. Stuart Kettlewell Jun 11th, 2009
17. Robbie Stephen Jul 1st, 2009
18. Ross Grant Jul 1st, 2009
19. Gary Miller Jul 1st, 2009
20. Iain Vigurs Jul 1st, 2009
21. Garry Wood Jul 1st, 2009
22. Michael McGovern Jul 1st, 2009
23. Grant Smith Mar 25th, 2010
24. Darren McCormack Jun 22nd, 2010
25. Mark Corcoran Jul 1st, 2010
26. Atli Gregersen Aug 1st, 2010
27. Johnny Flynn Sep 22nd, 2010

Youth Players Signed on Professional Terms
Player Pro Terms Signed