ALASDAIR FRASER Scott Leitch yesterday parted ways with Ross County following the club's relegation from the first division at the weekend.

While the circumstances of the manager's departure were clouded in some doubt, with the former Motherwell captain apparently expressing a desire to stay and fight for promotion next season, the Dingwall club insisted he had agreed to resign.

Leitch was handed his first head-coaching role last summer by George Adams, the club's director of football. But despite securing County's first senior trophy, the Challenge Cup, in November, his side's league form continued on its downward spiral.

Leitch's departure leaves the troubled club seeking a seventh manager in less than two years as they face up to life in the second division next season.

With Ross County declaring promotion as their immediate aim at the start of the season, Leitch faced a huge challenge from day one while also having to oversee a mass exodus of high-earners from the club.

Confirming the manager's departure, Adams said: "I had a meeting with Scott this morning and he intimated his wish to resign his position due to private and personal reasons.

"It's something that's been on his mind for a period of time. He has a young family down the road and was finding that continually difficult.

"There's no hidden agenda here. It was Scott's decision.

I respect his decision and I thanked him for his time at the club. We wish him every success in the future. The club will now move forward to find a suitable replacement."

Adams, meanwhile, insisted he would be staying at County, despite rumours of a summer switch to Hibernian. "Unless I'm told otherwise, I'll be here at the start of next season," said the director of football.

Adams admitted relegation to the second division would have implications for the cash-strapped club, however he insisted: "Part-time status is not on the agenda.

"We've got a large group of individuals still under contract for next season, so there certainly will be no mass exodus."