St Mirren boss and Town target Jack Ross has reportedly held talks with recently-relegated Sunderland’s new owners about the vacancy at the Stadium of Light.
An international consortium led by former Eastleigh owner Stewart Donald is set to complete their takeover today and, according to the Daily Record, have already held initial talks with Ross.
Sunderland chief executive Martin Bain previously held the same position at Rangers and is said to be well aware of the job the 41-year-old has done at St Mirren, having taken them from the bottom of the Scottish Championship to the title in 18 months.
Ross has twice met with Blues owner Marcus Evans and the former Clyde, Hartlepool and Falkirk defender remains the bookies’ favourite to take over at Portman Road at 3-1 odds-on with Bet Victor.
Sunderland, who dropped into League One at the end of 2017/18, their second successive relegation, are also said to be keen on Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst, who is the second-favourite for the Blues job at 4-1.
Hurst has always been well up Evans’s list of potential new bosses and he is keen to speak to the former Ilkeston, Boston and Grimsby manager about the vacancy but Town are yet to make a formal approach to the Shrews, who play in next Sunday’s League One play-off final.
On Friday, TWTD revealed that former England skipper Frank Lampard had been interviewed for the Town job and the 39-year-old is the third-favourite to take over at Portman Road at 7-1.
Tim Sherwood and Scott Parker, who have also both been interviewed, are at 20-1 along with Simon Grayson.
Shefki Kuqi, who wasn’t offered an interview despite applying, Östersunds boss Graham Potter, George Burley, Paul Cook, John McGreal, Mark Warburton and Tony Mowbray are all at 25-1.
Evans has conducted an exhaustive recruitment process since it was confirmed former boss Mick McCarthy would be departing this summer. The Blues owner has said he expects to make the appointment in late May or early June.
Ex-Wearsiders midfielder Alex Rae, who coincidentally was St Mirren boss before Ross, is currently the favourite for the Sunderland job with Ross behind him at 5-1, Leicester assistant Michael Appleton at 6-1, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder at 8-1 along with Cook.
"Ex-Town manager McCarthy, who it was reported over the weekend is keen to take over at Stoke City, is at 12-1 to return to his old role at Sunderland.