I'M A STAGGIE - BUT WANT TO PLAY IN PREM

NEW Northern Ireland cap Ronan Hale us facing a summer of uncertainty regarding his club future at relegated Ross County.

- By Andy Newport

The 26-year-old striker was left beaming last weekend as he made his long-awaited debut for Michael O'Neill's side in their friendly win over Iceland.

But that proud moment at Belfast's Windsor Park came just 15 days after the 18-goal striker and his club side dropped into the Championship after losing to Livingston in the play-off final.

It was a devastating blow for former Cliftonville hitman Hale after an impressive first season in Scotland's top tier.

Now with a slot in O'Neill's team to consider and rumours of interest from Dundee and Aberdeen, Hale admits he and County chiefs have some serious thinking to do over the summer.

"It's a situation that's ultimately not down to me," he said. "It's between the clubs.

"I'm still a Ross County player, but I want to be playing at the highest level I can. We'll just have to decide what happens then.

"Of course there's a lot of aspects that go into it and there are decisions to be made.