St Mirren manager Jack Ross says he’s aware that there has been communication between the Blues and his club but insists his focus remains on building a Buddies squad for their return to the Scottish Premiership next season.

Ross held a press conference earlier today having been named the Ladbrokes Championship Manager of the Year after St Mirren won the division by 12 points.

The 41-year-old was first mentioned in connection with the Town vacancy a month ago with the Paisley club having granted the Blues permission to speak to him last week, when it’s believed he was interviewed by owner Marcus Evans with a second meeting between the two understood to be taking place this week.

Quizzed on the links with Town this morning Ross appear to play down suggestions he has already met with Evans.

"I think there has been communication between the clubs, but at the moment I don't know anything more than that," Ross told Sky Sports News.

😀 All smiles from Jack Ross this morning as he met the press to discuss his Ladbrokes Championship Manger of the Year award. Well done, gaffer! pic.twitter.com/pgbIftwdTx– St Mirren FC (@saintmirrenfc) May 14, 2018

“I think those that know me that I have spent most of my time since the season finished at our training ground trying to push on with our plans for next season.

“I understand that it goes with the territory and you can’t complain about it because it’s a lot better than nobody being interested in you.”

He added: "At the moment my work and my focus is very much on trying to build a squad that will be progressive here and until that changes it will remain the case.”

”This club has been great for me because it has offered me that chance to prove myself in the last 18 months and I want to try and get better. For as long as I'm here, hopefully, that will be the case."

Regarding the gong, he continued: “It's only really a reflection on how well the players and the staff do throughout the course of the season, as the manager you receive that individual accolade, but you only get that if your team is good and the staff is good.

”Reflecting back on the awards it's nice, I think it's something I'll look back on with a lot of pride.”

Ross remains the joint-favourite for the Blues job at 7-4 with Bet Victor alongside Shrewsbury’s Paul Hurst.

Scott Parker is behind them at 10-1 with Shefki Kuqi, followed by Danny Cowley, Frank Lampard, Paul Cook, Simon Grayson and Tim Sherwood all at 20-1.

Photo: Action Images

Josh271092 added 14:54 - May 14 Great news!
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Europablue added 14:55 - May 14 I'd be happy with either of the joint-favourites for the job. I favour Paul Hurst, just because I am aware of the type of football he likes to play. What is Ross' playing style?
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BlueBlood90 added 15:00 - May 14 It would be interesting to know if he has already met with Evans. I can't see Evans interviewing somebody for a second time if he didn't intend on offering him the job. I still think Evans will want to speak to Hurst, but the extra two weeks wait to see if Shrewsbury are promoted could be too long and can't risk losing both Ross and Hurst.
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SpruceMoose added 15:01 - May 14 What a fibber! He's been interviewed already!
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boroughblue added 15:02 - May 14 I echo Europablue. Either of these two. Even a toss of a coin between the two would be good enough for me, lol. Hurst does come across as more interested out of the two from his comments. not that i would expect either to come out and say " sod Shrewsbury/St mirren, I'm going to Ipswich". Exciting times.
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Seasider added 15:05 - May 14 Not quite sure what to make of the above,especially regarding whether he has been interviewed.Doesn't appear to have seen Marcus yet. With Shrewsbury getting to play off final means does Mr Evans wait until the end of the month,and risk losing Jack Ross. On the other hand if 'The Shrews'win the final,they are in the Championship anyway;which could mean that there is no certainty that he would want to move. A dilemma for our owner !

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TrumptonBlue added 15:08 - May 14 If it turns out not be Ross or Hurst now, there are going to be a lot of disappointed supporters. Seems we have all (including me!) bought in to the idea of the new man being this kind of up-and-coming manager.
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Monkey_Blue added 15:09 - May 14 BlueBlood90- if a second interview automatically meant he was going to get offered the job what's the point of the interview? I assume he impressed if we are to believe he's already had one interview, but I'm sure others have been interviewed that's not even been reported. Seems to have done well but it's still at a low level with a club that would be seen as big in that division. He probably had more resources than most where as here he will have less but also a lot more competition in terms of teams capable of winning promotion. It's why I'd prefer someone like Steijn or Hurst who have over performed vs resources. I have to admit I've warmed seriously to the idea of Burley and Butcher.

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martin587 added 15:15 - May 14 Let's just wait and see,although the suspense is just killing me.But as they say"patience is a virtue"🤔
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bluehook added 15:17 - May 14 Odd how the Scots call him a ‘Manger' in that tweet, and now Phil has caught the habit. It'll never catch on - I prefer ‘Manager' personally.
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Europablue added 15:23 - May 14 It sounds like Ross has an attacking style of play. It sounds like he really is a rising star. The only way we are going to get promoted from this division is to get a manager who is good, but needs to build up their reputation. I don't mind if we are a springboard to better things if that lifts us up too. The way it is now, I'd say we should just offer Ross the job. Hurst should turn us down if he gets promoted. I don't know if Ross would be willing to wait.

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IP33 added 15:27 - May 14 He's proper dreamy. Biggest man crush since Murph.
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tractorboybig added 15:42 - May 14 zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz onto page 2
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Monkey_Blue added 15:45 - May 14 St Mirren were a big club in the Scottish championship and there were probably only 2 or 3 clubs competing to go up. They would have had bigger crowds than most also. That's a world of difference between managing a club in a 24 team division and having the 18th biggest budget and clubs with parachute payments from the prem to compete against.
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12th_Man added 15:46 - May 14 Just get him here board of reading about it
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SpruceMoose added 15:57 - May 14 12th_man It's 'bored'. And if you're 'board' of reading about it, feel free to go elsewhere for a while!
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itsonlyme added 16:13 - May 14 This unfortunately is going to drag on if these two are thr front runners. I heard a rumour that Neil Lennon is lined up to be our next manager. Not sure how true it us but that came from someone connected to ITFC, allegedly.
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bluearmy78 added 16:23 - May 14 Like I said the other day Ross is very highly regarded at St Mirren & from their fans forums they think that Ross will leave them for us. As for Hurst I really rate him & I really like how Shrewsbury play football, bookies have him as joint favourite but does Evans fancy him as our new Manager, we don't actually know. If Ross is actually having a second interview my money is on him & like Europablue has said go for him now, with the Manager merry go round we could miss a trick!

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blueoxford added 16:30 - May 14 It says he hasn't met ME. First interview could have been a telephone or more likely a Skype interview. Second interview in person
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PortmanTerrorist added 16:34 - May 14 Neither manager favourites are lacking serious ambition and are used to winning.....so how does ME sell ITFC and lack of funds? We can't assume all our players will suddenly be fit, and actually any good when they are fit....and of course we have a big hole which the loans used to fill too. Echo other peoples comments in that whilst you can put a positive spin on things, a new guy looking in from the outside could look at the Club and think MM has done what he always does and set a Club up for relegation. Am too Blue to be that negative, but these 2 guys have no loyalty to us....yet. Another reason why am starting to think George Burley becomes a very real and looming fall-back option for ME if/when others have snubbed the opportunity due to ME not matching their ambitions.

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fourpee added 16:43 - May 14 How did that other great scottish manager mciness do during his bristol city tenure?
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runningout added 16:53 - May 14 Voice like a more interesting Alex Ferguson and David Moyes
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toxtethblue added 17:00 - May 14 Get him in now. If we wait 2 weeks, Shrews go up, and Hurst says no to us it may put Ross's nose out of joint to play second fiddle and he may turn us down too... which would be a disaster
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SheptonMalletBlue added 17:16 - May 14 "At the moment my work and my focus is very much on trying to build a squad that will be progressive here and until that changes it will remain the case.” ”This club has been great for me" "For as long as I'm here, hopefully, that will be the case." These quotes from Jack Ross are quite telling if you ask me. He definitely isn't committing himself to St Mirren. I think he would be a great fit and a breath of fresh air! Roll on next Season!!!!

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happybeingblue added 17:24 - May 14 Does anyone actually watch/take scottish football seriously,the league is a joke probably lower level than our conference so not convinced by this as our future going forward feel this would be a massive gamble as he probably only knows about lower level scottish players who i doubt could cut it in the championship in England, we should have got gary monk who showed HARRY REDKNAPP how to steer the brum to results after he threw the towel in /was sacked as he did not have millions to spend

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