Former Ross County goalkeeper Mark Ridgers open to move to England
FORMER Ross County goalkeeper Mark Ridgers is open to a move to England as he seeks the next stage of his career.
Ridgers has been training with County since his release from Orlando City but has yet to receive any concrete offers of a new club.
He is currently home in the Highlands for Christmas but is open to relocating again, given that he has lived away from his Inverness home since he was 16.
Ineligible to play until January, having already moved clubs twice this year, Ridgers is aware that injuries and transfers in the New Year window may give him an option of rejuvenating his career elsewhere.
Family considerations also come into play – he decided against signing on for another year with Orlando City because he recently got married to wife Emma, daughter of County director Peter. He now has to think more long-term and a move south of the border is one he is considering.
“For a while I hadn’t heard anything, but I’ve had a few teams in the Scottish Premiership and beyond – one in England’s League One – having a wee sniff and asking about my situation,” he said. “So that’s positive. I’ve had plenty of calls from part-time teams up here in the north and some down the road who I’ve played for before.
“But that’s not the issue for me at the moment. The main aim is to get back into full-time football and whether it is going to be worth it as well. Taking it all into consideration, one of the reasons I left America and never took up my option of another year was thinking longer-term career-wise. I have to start looking to the future a little bit more now I’m married.
“Especially in Scotland now, it’s difficult to forge a proper career and you see that with a lot of players wanting to head down south. There’s more of an option there. That’s one thing I’m looking at just now because my agent is based in England and they’re talking to teams down there.”
Ridgers has been on the move a fair bit in the last couple of years. The 26-year-old left Hearts in 2014 and joined St Mirren where, in their relegation season, he deposed Marian Kello as the Buddies number one. However, when Ian Murray was appointed ahead of their maiden season in the Championship, Jamie Langfield was brought in and Ridgers was left on the sidelines.
A move back to Ross County, where he started his career, failed to materialise and he was left kicking his heels on the bench, until injuries to Kilmarnock’s three senior goalkeepers opened the door to an emergency-loan move.
He only played one game though, a League Cup defeat against his former club Hearts as MacDonald, a team-mate of his at Tynecastle, returned for the next game.
Seven months in the United States with Orlando City’s B side followed, playing in the United Soccer League, the third tier of American football, before he elected to return home last month.
“I’ve not really been in a situation like this before. I’ve been fortunate enough to have contract extensions and moves,” he said.
“So it is a place I’m not used to but in this day and age in Scotland it can be the norm. I know guys who have been here before.
“I just know the next step has to be right for me, personally, and for my career. A lot can change quickly. This time last year I was in the same situation with my loan deal finishing at Kilmarnock. I was asking if I should stay at Kilmarnock or go back to St Mirren where I might find it difficult to get playing again because of the situation there.
“Ian Murray had told me I was going to play and then he brought Jamie Langfield in. He never really gave me a reason why I wasn’t playing.
“We came up here with Kilmarnock for a game and the night before, in the hotel, my phone rang and it was my agent saying there was an opportunity to go to Orlando.
“I know it just takes a day and a phone call for everything to change.”
The Merkincher, who remains a Clach fan from his days growing up round the corner from Grant Street Park, is now set for a family Christmas back in his home town.
“The one bonus is I get to enjoy Christmas for the first time in 10 years – not having to drive up to Inverness, say hello, and quickly disappear again,” he said. “I was out Christmas shopping last week and I actually quite enjoyed it!
“My last game was only six or seven weeks ago in America, so the rest is welcome too. At least until I come to the decision, I’m just keeping my thoughts open and waiting for that call that will change everything.”