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Jack Ross: Sunderland name St Mirren boss as new manager - BBC Sport
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Jack Ross: Sunderland name St Mirren boss as new manager

Last updated on .From the section Sunderlandcomments172

Jack Ross
Jack Ross helped St Mirren to promotion in his first full season in charge last term

Jack Ross says he is taking charge of an "incredible football club" after being confirmed as Sunderland manager on a two-year contract.

Ross, 41, won the Scottish Championship title with St Mirren in 2017-18.

The former Alloa Athletic boss had previously been linked to vacancies at Championship sides Barnsley and Ipswich before moving to the Stadium of Light.

He has succeeded ex-Wales boss Chris Coleman at Sunderland, who will play in League One next season.

Successive relegations in the past two seasons have meant the club dropped from the Premier League to England's third tier.

"If you look the history, the facilities and most important of all, the fan base, you can see what this club can be," said Ross.

"To be part of the team to help realise that potential is something that fills me with excitement."

Ross 'has belief in Sunderland vision'

Ross' arrival is the first significant appointment made by new owner Stewart Donald, following his takeover of the club on Monday.

Donald added: "Jack is excited to be a part of the future we are building here.

"The fact he turned down lucrative offers from elsewhere, including clubs currently in a higher division than ourselves, is testament to his commitment and desire to succeed at this club and his belief in our vision for the future."

Ross will be joined at Sunderland by his assistant James Fowler.

St Mirren thanked Ross for "ensuring St Mirren were protected at all times" and "commend his commitment to the job throughout periods of speculation", while also wishing him "every success in his new challenge".

A club statement added that the search for Ross' replacement is now under way.

Who is Jack Ross?

Falkirk-born Ross has enjoyed a mostly upward curve in management since taking his first job at Alloa Athletic, and continued that following his move to St Mirren.

Promotion in his first full season in charge at St Mirren Park, earned him the PFA Scotland Manager of the Year award on the back of a campaign in which his side won 23 games to finish 12 points clear of their nearest rivals.

Ross had only arrived at the club the previous October, but led the Buddies from the bottom of the league to a seventh-placed finish and safety, having spent all but four weeks of the campaign in the bottom two.

He had left Alloa in second place in Scottish League One when moving on to the Saints, despite enduring relegation in his first campaign.

Before retirement, the defender enjoyed a solid playing career predominantly in Scotland with clubs including Falkirk, the Buddies and Hamilton Academicals, as well as a short-lived spell at Hartlepool United.

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172 comments

  • Comment posted by Wee Brian, at 16:20 25 May 2018

    Jack Ross worked miracles at St Mirren to save them from relegation one season and get them promotion the next. One thing is for sure, he is a major improvement on the shysters who have been masquerading as managers at the Stadium of Light recently. All the best Jack.

  • Comment posted by Socrates, at 15:57 25 May 2018

    I suspect Sunderland have landed a very good manager. Jack Ross always impresses in his media interviews and he has a great, if brief, track record so far. It may take him time to familiarise himself with the English game but he's a clever guy. Good luck to the him and Sunderland FC.

  • Comment posted by Tadger, at 16:09 25 May 2018

    A young, hungry manager that plays attacking football. Exactly what we'll need in this league. We need to focus on winning this competition then we can focus on the Championship then hopefully look at getting back into the Premier League. I'm just looking forward to watching us win some matches regardless of what league we're in. That's what it's all about.

  • Comment posted by Barley, at 16:16 25 May 2018

    Probably the best decision Sunderland have made for a decade or more. Good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by god boy, at 17:06 25 May 2018

    Come on Sunderland fans. Recent history has deflated you guys but this is a fresh start. Get behind the new owner and manager. This guy is a great manager albeit at a smaller club, but so was Fergie when he got the man utd job. You will succeed if you get behind the club.

  • Comment posted by WeeMalky, at 17:10 25 May 2018

    @18 Remember that Fergie was Manager of St Mirren before Aberdeen, then Man U. Hopefully another Fergie in the making.
    Man U have been flops by Sir Alex's standards, whilst spending hundreds of millions, since he left.
    If you can only troll, then don't say anything at all.
    At worst, it is a fresh start, and he will hopefully build from the Youth Team and bring some stability to the club SAFC

  • Comment posted by DaveP1982, at 17:12 25 May 2018

    Like them or not Sunderland fans deserve a change in fortunes & I hope they give this guy the time he needs to turns things round. Good luck to him

  • Comment posted by Gary Johnson, at 16:44 25 May 2018

    Well what a week for all us mackems, Donald and Charlie ride into town and within 5 days things at SAFC are changing for the better, good on them, they mean business and are here to hopefully make us proud again, it is clear they will give 100% so lets get behind them and Jack Ross (could the new Fergie!!!) and show them that we are with them too and turn the SOL into a fortress. Ha'way the lads

  • Comment posted by User0192589130, at 17:41 25 May 2018

    Look on the bright side, either a young manager with plenty to prove or the likes of the Fat Crook & his ilk from the great manager merry go round. Did a brilliant job with St Mirren, steering them away from relegation last season to league winners the following season, the guy must have something.
    Its a refreshing change to see a young manager get a chance.

  • Comment posted by Chris Evans Tv License, at 15:56 25 May 2018

    First two replies from NUFC fans #obsessed

  • Comment posted by jake c, at 19:40 25 May 2018

    Congratulations Sunderland, you've just signed the best young manager in British football.

    All the best Jack

  • Comment posted by Alan Robinson, at 16:09 25 May 2018

    Good luck to the new manager. Sunderland are undergoing a total reset following back to back relegation. I hope they get promoted again next season. That is more likely to be through the play offs rather than by automatic promotion. If he achieves it by using young players from the academy that will be even better. Good riddance to the everyone on a Premier League contract.

  • Comment posted by theworthinger, at 17:20 25 May 2018

    Paisley has a population of c.75k while Sunderland have a catchment of at least 4 times that. The stadiums have an even greater ratio of difference: 8k vs 49k.

    Not to mention the budget differences - Sunderland's parachute payment if probable 5 or 6 times St Mirren's annual turn over.

    It's not one of the Old Firm he is leaving so no surprise at all and a very good move for all involved.

  • Comment posted by mjim, at 18:51 25 May 2018

    Jack ross is class, Sunderland extremely lucky to land him, trolls FO, this guy will prove his worth!

  • Comment posted by TheEyebrowOfRodgerMoore, at 17:22 25 May 2018

    Excellent manager.

    Hopefully he'll be given reasonable time to turn things around.

  • Comment posted by tonep, at 16:48 25 May 2018

    Sensible appointment for a debt free club with superb new owners with multi billionaire connections, great infrastructure and probably 20k+ season tickets by the time the season starts. Next stop, that shambles of a squad. Onwards and upwards.Haway the lads.

  • Comment posted by Gill1e, at 17:19 25 May 2018

    Salary going from circa 70k to circa 350k. And people are saying hes stupid. Great move for him. A great club that just needs steered in the right direction.

  • Comment posted by User0651683141, at 16:00 25 May 2018

    A proven man manager; i'm sure he will have a positive impact on a team that has the chance to come back stronger

  • Comment posted by mark, at 19:16 25 May 2018

    Good luck and best wishes to Jack Ross. Hoping he can rid us of at least 10/12 ar@eholes masquerading as football players (not easy with their current wage packets) and replace with young hungry athletic lads who actually want to play football. Good to see a change in the club ie Stewart Donald etc and fingers crossed we could do alright next season although it will be tough.

  • Comment posted by ticforlife, at 16:53 25 May 2018

    Good luck
    Massive opportunity for you