'Frustrated' Derek Adams had to be his own man again after leaving Hibs for Ross County

Hibs manager Colin Calderwood expressed his regret at losing his "frustrated" assistant Derek Adams as the former Ross County boss chose to return to his old job in the Highlands.

Calderwood, who has been in the Easter Road hotseat for seven months, recruited Adams as his No.2 in a move that surprised many observers.

The fact Adams has chosen to return to Dingwall to reclaim a role with which he is more than familiar is less of a shock, especially to Calderwood, who revealed that his sidekick had grown exasperated as second in command.

"Derek is his own man, and I could see him getting frustrated at times," admitted Calderwood. "I know he wants to be the one making the decisions, and this move allows him to do that. But, I am sad he has left and it is something I do regret.

"I know Derek was torn to a degree when Ross County told him they wanted him back as a manager. It wasn't an easy decision for him.

"But he told me he wanted to be his own man once again, and I can totally understand that."

Adams' flit from supremo to assistant and back again in the past year reflects the career path of Calderwood, who sympathised with his ex-colleague's decision to return to management.

Ex-Nottingham Forest and Northampton manager Calderwood served latterly as assistant under Chris Hughton at Newcastle United before returning to a No.1 role by moving to Hibs seven months ago on a three-year contract.

"When I got the chance I moved and Derek has chosen to do the same," said the Easter Road manager.

"I wish him all the best. He is a good assistant and a good manager - and I fully expect him to be a manager in the SPL in the future."

Adams today flies abroad on holiday but will return from his break with Hibs no longer a part of his life.He said: "I have enjoyed my time in Edinburgh and I am sorry to be leaving Hibs, but the chance to be a manager again at Ross County is just too good an opportunity to turn down.

"Colin has been great to work with and I would like to thank him, and everyone at Hibs, for the opportunity and wish them every success in the future." Calderwood paid tribute to his ally, describing him as an "invaluable help".

"We didn't have a relationship before he came to the club but during the time we have worked together we became really close friends.

"We always felt we could be honest with each other and that was an invaluable help when it came to making decisions and picking the team."

Ross County's board had been due to convene today to decide whether or not to retain recent short-term boss Jimmy Calderwood, but chairman Roy MacGregor was delighted to swoop for Adams and thinks the returning hero of the Highlands club's Scottish Cup run last year will have been enriched by his time in the Capital.

"I think the Hibs experience will have added something," said MacGregor. "I cautioned him at the time about the move because I felt he was a leader who would find it hard to be a No.2.

"He has found that out but I think that's a positive, not a negative. It's a good decision and I want to thank Colin Calderwood and Rod Petrie for allowing it to happen."

Aside from the indirect benefits MacGregor thinks Hibs have lent Ross County, Adams' Easter Road tenure will surely have been a worthwhile exercise for the man himself.

He arrived to serve alongside Calderwood soon after the manager's own appointment, seeking a fresh challenge at a higher level having taken County as far as he could see was possible. He had guided County to Hampden this time last year - disposing of Hibs and Celtic en route to a defeat in the final to Dundee United.

Calderwood finally concluded a three-week search for an assistant, but admitted that when the name of Adams was touted he had only "pencilled" it into a notebook full of a list of potential targets. However, Calderwood and 35-year-old Adams hit it off immediately, leading to Hibs negotiating his release from the Dingwall club where he had been in charge for the past three years.

He said at the time of the appointment: "In the meetings we had we went from zero to 100 in next to no time, I have been hugely impressed by Derek's achievements at Ross County. What I think I have seen is a very ambitious man, thought-provoking whenever I spoke to him and I know he will add to the excellence we have here."

Calderwood will perhaps now revisit that list in his notebook to appoint Adams' successor.