Gary Holt insists the Premiership survival rat race has claimed another victim after the dismissal of Malky Mackay at Ross County.

Former Livingston boss believes his former Norwich teammate should hold his head high despite getting the axe and admits battling against relegation on a shoestring budget is an unsustainable struggle. Mackay left his post after a nine-game winless run and Holt believes one look at the top-flight table should have the majority of bosses looking over their shoulder at their boardrooms. He said: “Malky’s dismissal is symptomatic of Scottish football at the moment. It’s all about the results and it’s never about the style of play.

“Ross County are a good footballing side but they have been losing games. You need to win, that’s all that matters as it’s a dog eat dog, trapdoor business in the Premiership with it being one up, one down and then the relegation play-off. It has clubs just scrambling for wins and desperate to get points on the board to make sure it’s not them who are in that rat race.

“There is always a manager under the cosh and that is just the way we are with football and it reflects our society as well. People are listening to the outside noise from social media and the likes.

“St Johnstone sacked Steven MacLean after their losing run and it’ll be someone else under threat in the coming weeks. It wasn’t so long ago Motherwell manager was the bee’s knees and being hailed for the great football his team were playing and now they’ve been on a disappointing run he’s (Stuart Kettlewell) getting it in the neck.

“I say this as someone who loves working in football and I would love the Ross County job, it comes with the territory. If results start to go the wrong way you get social media outcry, campaigns for a manager to lose his job and the clamour grows for a win, any win.

“Five points separate Livingston at the bottom from Hibs in seventh spot, there’s not much difference between Hearts in fourth place, they are only seven points from the bottom. Two wins for Livi at the bottom has the potential to get them into the top six. Kilmarnock were sitting fourth recently after four home wins, what does that tell you?

“It suggests it’s a poor league. It could also suggest all of the teams outside the Old Firm are much of a muchness. It’s also often the case that the team which scores first in the Premiership goes on to win the game, which is telling.”

Holt also insists the pressure to win games can be seen at St Mirren where the tried and tested route to keeping their head above water can be seen by the average age of their squad. He said: “Management is more about sackings than success. Very rarely do you move on by doing well and managers know this.

“Look at St Mirren, Stephen Robinson has a side full of men, they have an academy but what’s the point of that as there doesn’t seem to be any pathway.

“They have signed men to make sure they cope with the demands each week. They had one young kid emerging in Jay Henderson and allowed him to leave for Ross County, it’s all about experience for them and it’s served them well.”

As County step up their search for a new boss, Holt is adamant Mackay could find himself a new home in the Houses of Parliament. He said: “I read County chairman Roy McGregor’s words about Malky and they were testament to him. He spoke about the impact he had made within the Dingwall area and not just at the football club.

“I don’t think there will be anyone with a bad word to say about Malky up there, maybe there will be some fans who will say something different as results matter. We are all big boys and he will know the score after not winning in nine games on the back of staying up last season after winning a play-off in a penalty shoot-out left him vulnerable to the club making a change.

“It required County needing to hit the ground running this season and it hasn’t happened. I would have felt the same as a manager and anyone in football would have felt the same.

“What Makly brought to the club was his stature and being inclusive to everyone, making it an atmosphere of friendliness and being approachable. In all of my dealings with him he has always been approachable, he would dismiss nobody and I’d like to think that’s how he was with the County fans and the Dingwall public.

“He would have engaged with them and if they wanted to come and have a chat he’d have done that and not closed himself off to that. I’ve always said Malky would be a great Prime Minister, he’s a terrific coach but he also has the diplomatic style which would have made a great MP.

“He has always had that allure and intelligence. He’s also more suited to management at a higher levels.”