It's probably a good time to post this . . . . Who is Jack Ross? A detailed look at the talented St Mirren boss who ticks the boxes for Sunderland A.F.C. St Mirren boss Jack Ross looks likely to be the man to manage Sunderland A.F.C. after agreeing a deal with new owner Stewart Donald please log in to view this image St Mirren boss Jack Ross is the man expected to fill the vacant manger’s role at Sunderland A.F.C. Reports suggest that new Black Cats owner Stewart Donald has agreed a deal with Ross that will see the 41-year-old earn five-times what his salary was at St Mirren. Donald revealed on TalkSport on Wednesday morning that he had agreed terms with a new manager and said that he was excited to get the deal done. With a busy summer ahead, and a big squad overhaul to undertake, getting that new manager in place as soon as possible is imperative. So who is the new man in the hotseat at the Stadium of Light? It's maybe about time that we told you everything that you need to know about the St Mirren boss. Career to date The 41-year-old began coaching after a 16-year playing career which included an unsuccessful spell at Hartlepool United. He started as a coach, working with Dumbarton and then Hearts before landing his first management job at Alloa Athletic in December 2015. He was unable to prevent the part-timers being relegated from the Scottish Championship, but was handed a new deal and stayed on in the summer of 2016. He departed in October to take over at St Mirren in the Championship. At that time Alloa were second in the first division and had been praised widely after holding Celtic to a goalless draw for 83 minutes of a cup tie before succumbing to two late goals. It was at St Mirren where Ross has really made his name as one of Scotland’s brightest young managers, though. Replacing former Sunderland player Alex Rae, he took over the Paisley club while bottom of the Championship and guided them to safety. Last season he then led them to the Scottish Championship title, and he was voted SFA Manager of the Year, beating Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers to the gong. Style of play Ross’ St Mirren side have become known for their attacking, fan-friendly football. Playing the ball on the ground and out from the back, his football is pleasing on the eye and usually leads to plenty of goals. In 36 games last season they scored 63 and finished 12 points clear of Livingston, who were later promoted, via the play-offs, themselves. His preferred formation for the Buddies was a 4-3-2-1 which in attacking scenarios quite often resembled a 4-3-3 and was said to have been very fluid. Tactically aware, his side could be organised and strong defensively when needed too. After a testing Scottish Cup tie, Celtic’s Rodgers described St Mirren as ‘the best team that we have played’ back in March. Man management St Mirren’s players have regularly spoken about the great atmosphere at the club since his arrival, and his training methods have been described as ‘modern and enjoyable.’ Midfielder Cammy Smith praised his boss’ influence on his own career, saying: “It is not a surprise to see him linked with these jobs - but we know that he likes this squad, we know that he likes coming in to work, and we are the same so we are confident that we will all stay together." “When I came on loan in January it was a bit different because every game was a must-win for us, but from day one I have been very impressed, even when he phoned me to ask if I was interested in coming to St Mirren for game-time. He was exactly what I needed - and he still is. He has been brilliant for me personally, I enjoy playing under him, and I enjoy playing under the whole coaching staff here.” Transfer record Sunderland are going to need a massive squad overhaul this summer, and Ross certainly has experience of that. Having been at the St Mirren Ground for just two months, Ross sold ten players in his first January window and signed just as many. It paid off, with the Buddies marching on to safety. He wasn’t given much of a budget in the summer, but had signed the bulk of his squad in that January window and just added to it with some freebies and one or two loan arrivals. Largely, his signings were Scottish players as he used his contacts to get players in, but there were a few that came in from England, too. Only one player came in from abroad (Pal Fjelde, Norway) and he didn’t play much. Working with youngsters Sunderland have a great core of young players at the club, and fans will be delighted to hear that Ross has been no stranger to using younger players during his time at St. Mirren. Perhaps a selling point to the new ownership, was the fact that he also developed three of those youngsters enough to warrant bigger clubs to come in and buy them, making much-needed money for the club. Kyle McAllister moved to Derby, Stevie Mallan (22) was sold to Barnsley last summer, and Lewis Morgan was sold to Celtic before being loaned back for the season. Relationship with the fans When first linked with Ipswich, David MacDonald, editor of the Black and White Army website, told the East Anglian Daily Times: “He’s a really good guy. Almost the best thing that Jack did for us was, at time when the relationship between the fans and the club and the players wasn’t particularly healthy, that over the last 15 months he really bonded that relationship. The whole club is completely united and he’s played a massive part in that. Things going better on the pitch helps, but the way that he conducts himself is brilliant. He takes time out to attend fan functions, to engage with the supporters, and the way that he talks to the media is really good. He talks really well, and if he sits down in front of you he’s a very impressive individual. He’s not like a lot of football managers who are just full of clichés – he thinks about what he says and what he says makes a lot of sense.” High in demand Ross ticks many boxes that would attract Sunderland A.F.C. then, but that’s also the case for many others too. He is still a contender at Ipswich having been given permission earlier this month to speak to them. The positive news is that the Tractor Boys are considering other options, though, including Frank Lampard. He was a contender to replace ex-Sunderland player, Paul Heckingbottom, at Barnsley too, but opted to see out the season with St Mirren. He was also made favourite to replace Dereck McInnes at Aberdeen when it looked like he’d be off to Rangers. Much like with Sunderland last summer, McInnes ultimately opted to stay at Pittodrie instead. As well as that, Ross himself has not been afraid to reveal his high aspirations of one day managing the Scottish national side. It’s clear that if Sunderland A.F.C. were to land Ross, they’d bag themselves a highly-regarded, highly sought after, young, modern-thinking, ambitious manager. He's probably quite keen to get away from managing a team that look like badgers (or worse), too, in favour of a much easier on the eye and far more attractive team that play in red & white stripes p.s. hopefully we haven't 'jumped the gun' here, and he is our man, of course.
Everybody starts somewhere, he’s evidently done a magnificent job at St Mirren and people need to step up. **** big names, **** Hollywood. We want our club, our team and our pride back. I’ll trust the new owners judgment until there is reason not to, and I’ll back the fella to the hilt. I’m actually starting to buzz about the club again, and that’s priceless.
Yeah I'm ok with this. I wanted a young up and coming manager with a decent track record who is looking to prove himself, and he fits the bill for club at the minute. A new start.
He can make mistakes in League One and likely get away with it, that’s actually a very good scenario for us. It’s a massive step up for him, but at a manageable level. Interesting that he was favourite for the Aberdeen job, another positive for me given the standing of McInnes and the club.
Ok, so we may have jumped the gun here as the St Mirren owner has just stated 1) no contact from us and 2) the fella is on holiday. Hmm.
Just heard on radio. St mirren chairman denies Sunderland approach. He says 'Unless there's been some 'skulduggery' the news is nonsense.' The plot thickens!
Any judgement at this stage should be based on record/potential, but there's something about that picture - he just looks right.
A lot of blubbing on other Ipswich sites, but I'm not all that bothered if he ends up with you. Mainly because I think that whatever dealings have (potentially) gone on between Ross and yourselves does not paint him in a particularly good light. If he hadn't been given permission, it shows quite the lack of respect to his current employers, especially when St. Mirren had allowed him to speak with us as well as Barnsley (and apparently others) so they weren't exactly standing in his way...
Fair mate. There’s usually a bit more to it than that of course but that’s the owner of the club so he knows his ****. I only care that he’s a good fit for the club, we’ve a long way to climb.
So what you're saying is that he's a right baddie and S.A.F.C. deserve him . . . . but you're not bothered like other Ipswich fans are please log in to view this image Is that about right n.b. we haven't even had confirmation that it's him that we're after yet, mind
I'm a bit disappointed and (based purely on speculation) don't think he'll come across that well, particularly with St. Mirren fans, but I suppose he doesn't care My interpretation is that he wanted your job and a lot of the media leaks of our interest (daily news articles etc.) was to give your owner a nudge. You then came in and got the deal done and will worry about any further compensation at a later date. You out dealt us and fair enough, it happens. No issue with that really just that I think it paints a very different picture of him to the one that was being circulated a week ago with his "Wonderful relationship" with the owner and the club etc. The general consensus is that Paul Hurst has always been 1st choice. The Ipswich fans that are getting their knickers in a twist are (probably quite rightly) fearing that he'll stay at Shrews, or go somewhere else and now that Ross is no longer available.. we'll end up with someone like Sherwood
I laughed when I read Roy Keane's chapter on managing Ipswich. When he left and moved back up Manchester way he likened the experience of living in Suffolk as being in a coma.
I said earlier we’ve done well to get him ahead of a ‘good Chamionship club like Ipswich’. In reality though, size of club, potential of club, media interest in club, locality to Scotland. Well we are the bigger deal, across the board. I like Hurst had a good look into him when we fired Grayson, he’d be a good appointment for anyone outside the PL. Strikes me Ipswich need a whole culture change and shake up, I’ll always have a soft spot for Mick Mac but you look a stagnating club, one of these hungry young gaffers looks the ticket for you lads.
Anyone recall a previous pretty good football manager who managed St Mirren and went on to do more than ok in the bigger world .. no less than a certain Alex Ferguson.
