St Mirren manager Jack Ross’s move to Sunderland has been called into question by Buddies’ chairman Gordon Scott, who says his club have received no contact from the Black Cats regarding the 41-year-old, who is also one of two bosses being eyed by Town along with Shrewsbury's Paul Hurst.

Widespread reports earlier this lunchtime indicated that Ross is the man who has agreed terms with Sunderland’s new owners, although the Wearsiders are still to announce the identity of their new boss.

"There has been no contact from Sunderland with us and Jack is on holiday. So unless there is some major skulduggery going on then it's nonsense,” Scott insisted.

"To hold talks with Jack, we would have to grant permission, as has been the case with Ipswich and Barnsley recently. But we've had no contact from Sunderland at all."

Earlier new Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald had told talkSPORT that developments regarding their management situation are close: "I am expecting there to be news on that very soon.

"We've agreed terms and literally the contracts are with the lawyers. The man in question is absolutely thrilled, which is what we want, and I'm absolutely delighted that he's coming, so that's exciting for us. I'm hoping that by the end of the day, we can reveal that."

Photo: Allan Picken

Len_Brennan added 15:37 - May 23 What consequence, if any in real terms, are there for a manager & the coveting club, where an illegal approach has been confirmed? A fine which equates to a week's pay for one of their better footballers?
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Paulc added 15:38 - May 23 Am i missing something here? the quotes in the article from the Sunderland Chairman dont actually name anyone. Is he even talking about Ross or is this just journos using the 2+2=5 equation?
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BelgianBlue added 15:45 - May 23 This Paul Hurst wait was so risky that I can't believe that ME didn't approach him , directly or not ,only to know if he would be interested . You ain't gonna tell me that 15 min on the phone are unfair to his current club or his situation !
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runaround added 15:47 - May 23 The whole thing just seems to be a mess. Would have been happy with Ross or Hurst but really fear we will end up with neither as our manager instead ending up with Grayson or someone equally disappointing
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BobbyBell added 15:55 - May 23 I can't say that Ross was my first choice but he's an idiot going there. It's promotion or the sack but then he'll get handsomely paid off. Seems like money ahead of ambition to me. Who ever comes here will get plenty of time so for a manager trying to work his way up we are an ideal club.
3

robmonkey007 added 15:56 - May 23 Too many think he'll be the new Alex Ferguson . Grow up and get real.
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ipswich61 added 16:05 - May 23 its just come up ross has agreed terms with sunderland
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robmonkey007 added 16:08 - May 23 A name has been linked to the post. GET HIM IN! He'll be amazing! These will be the same fans calling for him to be sacked before Christmas claiming ME doesn't know what he's doing. He's a clever business man....let him explore all possibilities....not just the first name mentioned
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ipswich61 added 16:10 - May 23 its all gonna end in tears
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Bluewelshman added 16:21 - May 23 Even if this is "fake news", I would still rather have Hurst (if he wants to come) on his experience alone. Mr Ross has done well at St Mirren so for him to be second choice in Evans mind is a good thing, but surely he can't be No.1 for one and a bit seasons in a (being generous) non-league environment. Also, if you check out his history, he got home sick when he signed for Hartlepool when he was 28, and demanded a transfer back to Scotland. Now if he gets homesick in Hartlepool, a stones throw from the Scottish border (relatively speaking), what would he be like living in Suffolk. Here's hoping for Hurst. COYB

2

1RWR added 16:23 - May 23 Has anyone thought for a moment that ME 'may not have liked Ross for the job?' If ME actually wanted Ross, he would have got him a few days ago, no doubt about it, just perhaps he wasn't the 'chosen one'? If Sunderland & Ross have gone behind the bike sheds to do a deal, I'm somewhat disappointed in Ross, thought he was better than that. ASSUMING OF COURSE ROSS IS THE NEW MANAGER AT SAFC?

5

cat added 16:27 - May 23 This is the very reason I seldom comment on the vacant management position, complete waste of ones mental energy, although it's quite hilarious reading some of the posts flying around on here. Ones things for sure though, whoever it might be won't be as bad as the last one.
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SuffolkPunch70 added 16:31 - May 23 GARY WHITE'S BARMY ARMY !!
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toxtethblue added 16:39 - May 23 Pay peanuts, get monkeys. He's a stand up guy though, he's wheeled his kids out...
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runningout added 16:48 - May 23 still not sure we know what we're doing
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:50 - May 23 IF (big "if": we don't know the full story yet) Slumberland and Ross have gone behind St. Mirren's back, would there be any legal consequences? Even if there were, I assume Slumberland have got the cash to pay a fine. Does anyone know the ruling on this?
1

Bluetone added 16:52 - May 23 Gary White should at least be given an interview.
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:53 - May 23 After every sunset there comes a sunrise, life go's on .If Ross has gone to Sunderland it shows how far off track the bookies can be. Anyway this news will cheer Swn98 up, he is still in mourning for his idol.
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westernblue added 17:09 - May 23 Anyone outside the direct discussions - including me and (probably) everyone else posting on here - gets a (not always reliable) heads-up from the media. So we assume, but don't know, that it's become a two-horse race (i.e. Hurst and Ross). Most of us seemed fairly happy with this. But ME can't interview Hurst before next week. If things have changed, and Ross is already off to Sunderland, then if St Mirren weren't approached beforehand, even though at the end of the day Ross can pursue his career where he wants, my feeling is that Town shouldn't want him here anyway. If that scenario turns out not to be true then he may be still in the frame. The situation hardly justifies still more anti-ME postings. I think we should all stay calm. For now, I'm just indescribably delighted that MM isn't on the short list.

2

Seasider added 17:35 - May 23 None of us south of the border had even heard of Ross until his name was mentioned about a month ago;so I am not unduly worried as some seem to be about this.Especially as we are powerless to do anything about it. As I have said previously we just have to leave it to Marcus,and hopefully accept his decision as the Owner. It may well be that another name could emerge.Remember that Bobby Robson wasn't in the frame for the Ipswich job when Bill McGarry went to Wolves.He wasn;'t first choice,and don't think he was even second;but the two who turned us down then,did not go on to have such a great career in the game as he did. Think we should know in the next week,and then TWTD will go into semi hibernation for a month,as surely Phil and Gav need a holiday,like the footballers.

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blueboy1981 added 19:16 - May 23 Amazing how someone who few, if any, had heard of a month back becomes a messiah, and a disaster, because we haven't signed him up. That's why you're all punters, and thankfully, own snd run nothing much more than your own household.
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