St Mirren have confirmed they have granted Sunderland permission to speak to their manager Jack Ross. The Black Cats say they are hopeful of making an announcement on Thursday.

The Scottish Championship title winners said in a statement on their website: “St Mirren Football Club can confirm we received an approach from Sunderland AFC this afternoon for permission to speak to our manager Jack Ross.

“After agreeing to our terms we have reluctantly given them permission to speak to Jack about their vacant manager’s position.”

Earlier, during a chaotic afternoon, Ross was widely reported to be the man new Sunderland owner Stewart Donald was talking about when he said he was close to naming a new boss at the Stadium of Light.

"We've agreed terms and literally the contracts are with the lawyers," Donald said.

"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."

The Black Cats, who were recently relegated to League One, were said to have agreed a two-year deal with Ross, who would be earning five times his current salary, with the contract having an option for a further season, while St Mirren were due to receive £50,000 in compensation.

However, Buddies chairman Gordon Scott subsequently dismissed claims that his club's 41-year-old manager was in talks with the Black Cats, saying no approach had been made to the Scottish Championship winners.

"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,” he insisted.

We understand St Mirren have granted Jack Ross permission to speak to Sunderland.

Talks are ongoing - with Ipswich remaining an option, as does staying in Paisley. pic.twitter.com/iRGbjZiuH4– Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) May 23, 2018

Scottish radio station Clyde 1 then revealed that permission had belatedly been granted to the Wearsiders to speak to Ross but with a move to Town “remaining an option” along with staying with St Mirren.

However, Black Cats owner Donald has added to his earlier comments: "I said in the press conference we would hopefully have our man by the weekend.

"The update is we have agreed terms and as I said it is with the legals now. By close of play tomorrow I would hope to make an announcement. All on course."

Ross has twice spoken with Blues owner Marcus Evans and was understood to be one of two remaining candidates to succeed Mick McCarthy along with Shrewsbury’s Paul Hurst.

The 43-year-old, whose Shrews side face Rotherham in the League One play-off final on Sunday, is now the 6-4 odds-on favourite for the Blues job with Bet Victor with Ross now behind him at 8-1 along with former Wales and Sunderland boss Chris Coleman.

Frank Lampard is at 11-1 and Scott Parker and Tim Sherwood at 12-1, all three having been interviewed by the Blues.

Evans said last month that he hoped to make his appointment at the end of May or in early June.

Photos: Allan Picken/Action Images

Bergholtblue added 19:23 - May 23 steveitfcsweden............. or Scumberland really want Hurst but so does Town with Ross as a back up. So they put out that they have offered a job to Ross to make Town panic into getting him first, leaving the door open for them to get Hurst..... only to be beaten by Derby.
2

blueboy1981 added 19:26 - May 23 Hurst or Ross ? - not at all bothered if we get neither to be honest. Plenty of people want the job for the right reasons, and won't need their arms twisted up their backs either. Totally unknown potential,is all either have to offer anyway.
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 19:29 - May 23 Officially No. No approach has been made so no permission can be granted....... whether that means no contact via 3rd party or agent is a diffrent thing. That's football and I have no real issue with it..... unless you make a big thing about your principles etc and then .........
1

dugoutdave added 19:34 - May 23 I would really laugh if after all this ME appoints someone none of us even considered. He does keep quiet about whats going on. Unlike some owners.
7

BlueandTruesince82 added 19:46 - May 23 Blueboy, I think your stated choice was Steijn. Given that looks unlikely (unless Marcus is being v secret squirrel) who tops your list now?
0

alfromcol added 19:48 - May 23 Sunderland for Division 2, anyone?? What a laugh.
1

braveblue added 19:55 - May 23 Don't blame Ross. Strikes me that Evans is like a rabbit in headlights and is slowly missing out. Maybe it was going to cost a few pence.
-13

PINENWOOD40 added 20:08 - May 23 Well done Essex Tractor, sensible review of situation so far. ME said we would have new man in place end of May/early June. He has conducted procedure as it should be done, as far as we know. Rather than like a cowboy outfit. It's competitive out there but we shouldn't sink to the lower levels of others. The June date implies Hurst is the target, but ME may well have a big surprise waiting for us!! Just have to be patient!!

10

wayway added 20:36 - May 23 Shrewsbury win the playoff final. Hurst stays. here you go Evans, Time for Holloway, he's available, he's cheap and he's bloody useless
-3

beornioblue added 20:41 - May 23 Maybe sunderland got the idea about Ross because the ITFC media kept bleating on about him!! You can't blame him though it seems he is second choice to hurst and must be thinking well if imdecond choice why should I bother with Ipswich
3

bluesman added 21:06 - May 23 Farce continues
-2

Bezzer added 21:13 - May 23 Ross or Hurst, that's just not ambitious enough imo! That said, we'll never attract a big name with the shoe string budget ME issues. Our wage structure doesn't allow us to sign decent enough players to get us promoted, which again, will put off any top manager coming here. If ME is serious about promotion, he'd address both of the above financial issues that restrict us. Like it or not, this is a tax efficient business for him. An ambitious owner would go for someone like Martinez (post World Cup), Ranieri, Laudrup, Hoddle and give them £25m+!

-5

BrettenhamBlue added 21:22 - May 23 Gutted about this news
0

StochesStotasBlewe added 22:16 - May 23 Simon Grayson is free......................Wouldn,t be at all surprised if Evans has him on his radar. Not my personal choice but a decent managerial record all told.
-3

Pumpee1980 added 22:47 - May 23 Done deal apparently on Sky Sports..... Sunderland have snapped him up. 'Ross to be named Sunderland boss' http://www.skysports.com/share/11383354
0

toxtethblue added 06:57 - May 24 Will be Coleman, Holloway or Grayson. All rubbish but they'll be cheap and that's the main thing.
-3

KiwiBlue2 added 07:13 - May 24 Suspect that if Ross was number one target he would have been signed by now. Seems to me Hurst is the primary target, hope that he signs next week
1

jollyroger added 07:40 - May 24 If Rosa is on holiday as has been stated . Has he been to the stadium of light to look at facilities ect ? Don't add up to me all a bit quick .
2

KiwiBlue2 added 08:42 - May 24 Could be bluster by Sunderland's owner to put pressure on Ross who if he later signs for us will have appeared to Sunderland fans to have let them down. I still think Evans's preference is Hurst with Ross the back-up option as Hurst is very familiar with our lower leagues and therefore likely to land a cut price bargain or two........
1

rollercoastertown added 09:16 - May 24 Personally, I think this whole story says a lot about sunderland at the moment. A new owner operating in the same unprofessional way his predecessor did. If Ross feels he would like these employers, good luck to him. His loss.
1

blueboy1981 added 09:23 - May 24 Burley/Butcher combo it has to be now Steijn seems even less likely - would have loved to see the Dutch connection return to the Club. In the abscence of that, lets get some Ipswich pedigree back in the shape and form of the two B's.
0

SuffolkPunch70 added 09:32 - May 24 GARY WHITE'S BARMY ARMY !!
1

Razor added 10:31 - May 24 This is becoming a tad embarassing, but no surprise there. I can only assume Evans has got a definite thumbs up from somebody (Hurst?) but just has to wait for the right time to announce it. Otherwise he could prove to be really clever (really!!) and produce somebody from nowhere,like Nigel Cough (yes please) or David Moyes. This is more exciting than our football last season----when will it all end!?

2

Surco72 added 10:39 - May 24 Pay the money and get Lampard with an advisor , although the Roy Keane thing didn't work out it was nice seeing us actually mentioned on TV once in a while and getting more live games on Sky whilst he was in charge
1

Pedlarjak added 10:39 - May 24 I notice that when he started talking to Sunderland it made the BBC Sports news - but when he started talking to Ipswich it didn't. Says a lot about the profile of the two clubs, and, from an Ipswich point of view, not in a good way.
3

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