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.

Photo: Allan Picken

TR11BLU added 10:34 - May 21 As said by @bigalsmate, calm down, let the process and interviews continue. We dont want a knee jerk appointment. No doubt the next 10/12 days will reveal dinos successor so lets be patient.
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BrettenhamBlue added 10:35 - May 21 And why is Roy Keane now at 33/1 for the job??
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Bert added 10:37 - May 21 What a lot of tosh from some on here. Contradictions all over the place.
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Barty added 10:38 - May 21 it will be Hurst you see
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:39 - May 21 After Mick i just really want someone who wants to be at the Club, believes in the Club, and believes he can make things happen. Thought Ross was our man and would have backed that decision, but if he thinks he has better options then then we can quickly move on. Hurst is an option but i really like the idea of Gary White not least as he has spoken out positively about the role. Burley is presumably the fall back position?!

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Razor added 10:40 - May 21 This whole process is proving a tad embarassing and makes me think more and more that we have an owner who does not know what he is doing------please prove me wrong!
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Ipswich_Crazy added 10:45 - May 21 12th_Man: You never have anything positive to say about town. Be nice for once if you supported the town!
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ArnieMsBigToe added 10:56 - May 21 I wonder if Hurst has said he wants to wait until after the play off final before he thinks about ITFC. I will be amazed if it is someone other than Hurst or Ross. It will NEVER be Roy Keane, so don't worry about that. I am a little disappointed that the Poyet/Tauricco partnership has not been considered
2

branchini1979 added 10:56 - May 21 We are at a stage now where there are so many vacancies at the moment, so you do need to get in quickly. If you pick out a name and then don't act, then other clubs will think "oooh Who is this bloke Ipswich are interested in? Maybe we should enquire". As others have said, when someone has been interviewed, as long as they have a good track record, enthusiasm and a real interest in the team they are going to manage, and the owner and fans are interested, get them!! BTW it is another week until Rotherham play Shrewsbury so that is waiting a week until interviewing him. If Ross is the man, get him now, if there is doubt then i suppose wait for Hurst, but your own fault if you waited and did not like what you heard from Hurst and then Ross gets snapped up

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GiveusaWave added 10:56 - May 21 This process is very normal. At the end of the day, I'm sure we will land either Ross, Hurst or Lampard...all of which will prove effective managers at our club. The sense of urgency is understandable (planning, signings, contracts etc) but it's not as if we are the only club without a manager right now. It's better to get the right man rather than make a rushed appointment. And if Ross decides that Sunderland is a better fit for him...so be it. He's got to make the right choice for him. It's not just about us signing someone up. That person also needs to agree. They need to think about life in Suffolk for their family, the potential of our club, the financial contract and whether ITFC is the right fit. Just because we offer someone a job doesn't mean they will accept it.

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Bergholtblue added 10:58 - May 21 This is all conjecture no-one knows what really is going on. For all you know Ross may have been offered the job and wants a couple of weeks to think about it. Hurst may have been offered the job but wants to keep it quiet to avoid play-off disruption. Just be patient and what will be will be.
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TheTrueBlue1878 added 11:04 - May 21 Why so much panic, initial talks!! Very far behind the talks were at with Ross. If we have been interviewing multiple targets, Mr Ross is more than within his rights to do so with clubs. Mr Evans will make no deiscion until Hurst has been spoke to.
2

Currie10 added 11:10 - May 21 12th man may have a point though !? I don't know what the hell people expect us to do next season. We're MILES behind our rivals.
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LondonBlue73 added 11:13 - May 21 Wow people, all I can say is calm down and thank God many of you do not run the club. When recruiting you should always take time, explore all avenues and ensure the best available candidate is chose. Evans always said end of May early June. If Ross cannot wait or doesn't for the process then he is not committed to coming and we move on. Hurst I have no doubt is aware but I bet Shrewsbury have requested we wait till after the play offs. That's fair and if he as reported is target number one we should wait. Also by doing it correctly negotiating and potential payment with them will be easier. Interviewing Sherwood, and others as part of the process is again sensible. As is waiting. I think Evans has got much wrong in his time here but this process is showing him as a good business man. For all the doubters, I am sure he would tell all candidates his time frame. When I employ I don't judge just on who I want but also if they really want to work for me. All three favourites are a step in the right direction.

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bostonusablue added 11:18 - May 21 I don't get everyone's infatuation with Ross. He's been managing in the equivalent of Division 1. But because the media tell us he's great we all think he's the only option for Town to move forward. Agreed the likes of McClaren and Moyes would be terribles, but let's not pin all of our hopes on Ross. How many of you had even heard of Ross before his name was mentioned with Town? Not many is my guess.

4

greenkingtone added 11:19 - May 21 Frankly I'd be dubious about Burley. He has been out of the game for more than a decade. I'd be happy with Ross, Hurst or Lampard.
6

peteswindon added 11:24 - May 21 Simon Grayson it is then
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hucks216 added 11:26 - May 21 And with rumours that Stoke are in talks with Derby over taking Gary Rowett that could be another club in the market for any up & coming manager to take them forward.
1

itfcitk added 11:34 - May 21 Ross, reluctant to take the job due to wage and transfer budget. Hurst, Is high on Derby's wish list should Rowett take the Stoke job. Lampard, will be next Ipswich Town Manager. With Harry Redknapp accepting a consultant role on a rolling monthly contract.
2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 11:35 - May 21 This is turning into a game of poker. Do we keep our nerve, or do we show our colours now?
3

Carberry added 11:41 - May 21 At least McLaren has gone to QPR. That's one out of the way.
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clint_eastwood added 11:51 - May 21 I'm not all that fuss about this Ross guy at all, really. Sunderland can have him for all I care. Take your time Mr. Evans, & do a thorough search as long as we get the right man in charge this time.
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loudnproud added 12:10 - May 21 Mabe its not Marcus dragging his feet on this one......A manager in demand has many options....Just a thought
3

carsey added 12:11 - May 21 I think Town need to make a decision about Mr Ross else we will lose him to someone else.
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Swn98 added 12:16 - May 21 Yet again the good users of the news site work themselves up in a lather with no evidence to back their theories has any one considered Ross might of been offered the job and turned it down as might Hurst. Regrettably if the town job came up 40 years ago it would of been filled straight away,things change its not one of the Top 6 managerial positions any more we were warned be careful what we wish for.

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