Ross County will attempt to lure Derek Riordan to Dingwall

Published on 17/08/2012 00:00

ROSS County are in talks with Derek Riordan over a shock move to Dingwall.

While Riordan’s wage demands present a major stumbling block for the SPL newcomers, County want to tempt the ex-Celtic and Hibs striker with a short-term opportunity to resurrect his career in the top flight. Despite his status as the SPL’s third highest goalscorer of all time – behind only Henrik Larsson and Kris Boyd - Riordan’s career has hit the buffers in recent seasons amid personal troubles, but County manager Derek Adams insists he would have no qualms at all about taking a gamble on the 29-year-old former Scotland striker.

Adams said: “We are interested in Derek Riordan and have spoken both to his agent and to him. I don’t think we can afford him in terms of wages. He would have to come here with a desire to play and get himself back in the shop window. He would probably need to take a sacrifice, wage-wise, to come here. I think it would be a great platform for the player himself, as well as a very good signing for us. We can only talk.” Riordan’s last of three Scotland caps came in 2009. After a prolific breakthrough with Hibs, Riordan won a move to Celtic in 2006 under Gordan Strachan. He then returned to Hibs after three years having failed to gain a foothold in the Parkhead first team. Again, the goals flowed at Easter Road for the talented attacker but he left last year after being offered a reduced deal to remain at the club. Since then, it has been an unsettled period dogged by disciplinary problems and alleged brushes with trouble in nightclubs.

Trials at English clubs including Blackpool and MK Dons have failed along with an ill-fated and brief spell in China with top side Shaanxi Chan-Ba. After terminating his deal with the Chinese club after a fall-out with the head coach,