Sunderland are expected to confirm the appointment of St Mirren manager Jack Ross as their new boss today with Shrewsbury’s Paul Hurst now appearing a shoo-in to take over at Town.

Ross, 41, is understood to have agreed terms with the Black Cats during a chaotic Wednesday while away on holiday in Greece but is expected back today when it is anticipated he will put pen to paper at the Stadium of Light.

News that Ross had agreed terms with Sunderland came as a surprise to his current club St Mirren with the Wearsiders only belatedly asking for permission to speak to him, which the Buddies granted “reluctantly”.

Town were similarly caught off guard having reduced their shortlist to Ross and Hurst.

As previously reported, the 43-year-old Shrews manager has been a leading contender from virtually the start of Town’s recruitment process with Ross an initial outsider but the candidate who most impressed Blues owner Evans during interviews.

Town are expected to hold formal talks with Hurst next week after Shrewsbury’s League One play-off final against Rotherham at Wembley on Sunday.

The Blues have kept their distance during the Shrews’ play-off endeavours but it’s long been understood that they have had a strong indication that discussions are likely to progress positively whatever the outcome of Sunday's match.

Town look to be on track to make an announcement in line with Evans’s outlined timescale of late May or early June, probably late next week.

Asked to comment on links with Town early this month, Hurst said: "It's just a compliment to everyone here and the season that we've had."

Pressed on whether he could guarantee that he would stay with the Shrews next season, he added: ”I can't honestly answer that - it would be wrong for me to sit here and say that. I don't know what's going to happen between now and then.

"All I can honestly say is that I enjoy it here, I've got a good relationship with pretty much everyone at the football club and I want to try and take this club to the Championship.”

Hurst's assistant Chris Doig would be likely to follow him to Portman Road while the Blues are also currently short of a goalkeeper-coach and a fitness-coach with Malcolm Webster retiring and Andy Liddell opting to move on. Those positions at Shrewsbury are held by former Wales international Danny Coyne and Marc Lindsey.

Should an obstacle emerge in their pursuit of Hurst then the Blues would return to their longer list of potential recruits with a number of those interviewed also understood to have made an impression on Evans.

Hurst is now the evens favourite to take charge at Town with Bet Victor, while former Wales manager Chris Coleman is surprisingly second in the running at 6-1 and former Brentford, Rangers and Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton third at 10-1.

They're followed by Tim Sherwood, 12-1, Scott Parker, 14-1, and Frank Lampard, 16-1, all of whom TWTD revealed were among those interviewed by the Blues.

Photos: Action Images/Allan Picken

iaintaylorx added 10:14 - May 25 Makes sense for him to move to Sunderland, but it is a poisoned challace there! Hurst seems a genuine bloke and has done wonders at Shrewsbury since taking over. Just hope, if Shrewsbury win their playoff final, he doesn't decide to stay on...
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MoscowBlueMule added 10:15 - May 25 I sincerely hope this happens. He was always my number 1 candidate on paper. The others in the running give me the wobbles. Would have been better to stick with MM!!
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JoeySuffolk added 10:16 - May 25 Hurst has more experience a better win ratio & is in a play off final..
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StringerBell added 10:19 - May 25 Let's face it, most of us had never heard of Ross until 2 weeks ago whereas we're all aware of the pedigree Hurst will (hopefully) bring. All turned out for the best methinks.
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greenkingtone added 10:20 - May 25 Hurst was always the safest option of the two.
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robmonkey007 added 10:20 - May 25 Surely we can do better than Hurst!
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BobbyBell added 10:21 - May 25 I still think this depends on the Play off final. If they go up will he really want to leave? Also, who else has their eye on him. Sunderland moved fast on Ross so will someone else move faster than us on Hurst? The thing is our favour is that if he comes here he will be given plenty of time. Ross will be out in a year if Sunderland don't get promotion.
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pointofblue added 10:22 - May 25 My fear is Derby will make an approach for Hurst and muck this up for us.
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tractorboybig added 10:24 - May 25 Well if this report is to be believed then other than hurst all the names in are total disasters. Still in evans we trust,
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Currie10 added 10:26 - May 25 This will probably result in 100 down arrows and while I love to know the goings on at ITFC, I'm of the opinion some of the news is very detrimental to our activities as a club.
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Fatboy added 10:28 - May 25 Do we know if Evans has met Hurst or had any kind of discussions regarding the vacancy? If not, it seems strange that he appears to be on a shortlist of one ahead of all those who have been interviewed.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 10:28 - May 25 Hurst left Grimsby after getting them promoted. He's taken Shrews to about their limit, especially if they go up. Will.he want to face a relegation battle all season or does he want a proper crack? EDP has Clarke, Tilsdale and Appleton and poss Plan B which calms me somewhat.
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Townie29 added 10:28 - May 25 If this comes off and we do get Hurst, I think it will be a brilliant move for both parties - well done ME and everyone involved
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BlueandTruesince82 added 10:30 - May 25 Fat boy  Blues have kept their distance during the Shrews' play-off endeavours but it's long been understood that they have had a strong indication that discussions are likely to progress positively whatever the outcome of Sunday's match. There is your answer
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lightingblue added 10:30 - May 25 Really starting to get tediously boring. Bit like the kids are we nearly there yet comment!! lol
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PortmanToe added 10:30 - May 25 I hope it works out for Ross but everything I read about Sunderland's new owners points toward a storm-to come: members dropping out of the consortium; only £5 million of £40 million agreed price paid to previous owner, Ellis Short; people finding out they're redundant via Twitter; new owner Stewart Donald flying to Monaco during Ross negotiations to try and recruit new consortium members; not to mention the possible illegal "tapping up" of Ross.

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exeterblue10 added 10:31 - May 25 Was that a shoo-in or a shrew-in? Happy if it happens. Fingers crossed...
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12th_Man added 10:33 - May 25 Board of it now to be honest
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essextractorboy93 added 10:36 - May 25 All sounds positive. Will be pleased if Hurst gets appointment. Ross sounded promising too but either way I think the majority of our fans will be happy. Just as long as its not Tim Sherwood or Simon Grayson! Whoever the new boss is they will have to get to work quickly because the transfer window closes early this summer.
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cranky_old_tractor added 10:39 - May 25 A good result if it happens.
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stig4532 added 10:41 - May 25 Welcome Paul, a young and attack-minded manager who will no doubt look in the lower leagues for gems. UP THE TOWN
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spanishblue added 10:46 - May 25 I think it's terribly naive to think no contact has been made with Paul Hurst officially or unofficially I believe this has been a done deal since the Second interview with Ross,at least our manager will be given time to do the job
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terryf added 10:52 - May 25 Kinda think that although ME was probably impressed with Ross, his number one target has always been Hurst. Otherwise why did he not offer Ross the Job after the 2nd interview? Please not Appleton or Coleman though. Neither have really pulled up any trees at Club level!
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1RWR added 10:52 - May 25 I'm not sure if Ross is any better than Hurst, but going to Sunderland is one big gamble. If I were him I'd leave one suitcase unpacked just in case. As others have rightly pointed out, coming to ITFC he'd probably have his full contract to set his mark, I fear 'up north, he may be on a short leash! Good luck to him anyway, no animosity from me, frustration perhaps. The new manager will be the new manager regardless of what we think. The seasons looking good, the season is looking blue!

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ArnieM added 10:54 - May 25 Town only have themselves to blame on this one. We either wanted Ross or we didn't. Just because Hurst was to available to talk too doesn't mean we can expect Jack Ross to “wait and see if he's good enough for Town” while Town continue to look around if the off chance we find someone better! Good luck to Jack Ross ( Sunderland identified their man and went for him) and here's hoping Hurst is good enough for Evans or we have once again shot our bolt due to ITFC continuing first class ability to procrastinate !!

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