Blues target Jack Ross has been confirmed as Sunderland's new manager.

Ross has signed a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light. His St Mirren assistant James Fowler has joined him on Wearside.

The 41-year-old told the Black Cats’ official website: “This is a fantastic opportunity to take charge of an incredible football club.

"If you look the history, the facilities and most important of all, the fanbase, you can see what this club can be.

"To be part of the team to help realise that potential is something that fills me with excitement.

“From the moment I spoke to [new Sunderland owners] Stewart [Donald] and Charlie [Methven], their energy and enthusiasm was evident and I share in that.

“There’s a lot of work to be done in reshaping the squad to ensure that we hit the ground running in League One, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Donald added: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured Jack as our new manager.

"Jack is excited to be a part of the future we are building here, and the fact he turned down lucrative offers from elsewhere, including clubs currently in a higher division than ourselves, is testament to his commitment and desire to succeed at this club and his belief in our vision for the future."

Wednesday's news that Ross had agreed terms with Sunderland came as a surprise to 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.

Photo: Allan Picken

cromwellblue added 13:16 - May 25 OK, that clarifies that. Lets' all try to resist the temptation to slag off Ross & Evans over this and let things play out.
34

NoCanariesAllowed added 13:16 - May 25 Can we all just agree to one quick thing, here and now? If we do go on to appoint Paul Hurst, and things don't go well... ...and if Sunderland enjoy immediate success under Jack Ross... Let's not have any smarta**es on here berating ME for 'picking the wrong one'. Aside from the fact that it very much appears Sunderland were a tad backhanded in their approach to this appointment - something I never want to see us doing regardless of outcome - there is no way any Ipswich fan can say how either of these candidates would've been right or wrong for the Town job at this stage. It would always have been a flip of the coin and now the coin's been taken away anyway. Personally knowing what we do at the moment, and not having some magic crystal ball, I'd be very happy with the appointment of Hurst - as I have been since pretty early on in the process.

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12th_Man added 13:17 - May 25 Good luck to him think he might need it. Now let's move on and get Paul Hurst in asap
21

1RWR added 13:17 - May 25 Not a disaster, still say Evans wasn't totally taken by Ross otherwise the job was his, so, move on chaps. Hurst confirmed next week will do me nicely!
24

BlueBlood90 added 13:19 - May 25 Right, well that's that then. He sounded like a good candidate, but it's time to move on, forget about him and get behind Paul Hurst or whoever else gets the job.
10

BaddowBlue1 added 13:22 - May 25 If Shrewsbury hadn't made it through to the Play off Final this would all be over. Believe that Evans has made his decision as he would have snapped up Ross last week after the 2nd interview. Somewhere along the line is a nagging doubt on Ross. Anyway good luck to Jack in his appointment, things have a way of working out for the best for both teams.
14

blueblood_soldier added 13:25 - May 25 good, didn't want a guy that got homesick in his only English football experience and has only managed in Scottish lower leagues for 3 years.... I'm sure he'll do a great job with Sunderland, but I reackon I'd get Sunderland out of league 1... Hurst all the way.. if he doesn't come then Marcus has dropped a bit of a clanger but there are other younger managers with a better cv than Ross that could be turned to if needed....COYBs

4

StringerBell added 13:25 - May 25 So, we move on. If Ross had wholeheartedly convinced Evans he was the man he'd be in post by now. My suspicion is that Ross interviewed very well but Hurst has always been the preferred candidate. Let's all get behind the new manager, hopefully Hurst, and make sure that we back the new appointment to the hilt. Here's to better times ahead.
9

chopra777 added 13:29 - May 25 I see that Ross wants an easy job in League One. We have to wait and see if he is cursed like his predecessors.
2

Mark added 13:29 - May 25 Ross sounds a good man, but has only had success at one club in the Scottish second tier so may or may jot cut it in England. Hurst has been successful at 4 clubs and may be on the brink of taking little Shrewsbury to the Championship. Hurst has a fantastic record for a young manager. He has good reason to be first choice and it will be such a relief if we can get him.
16

mib added 13:36 - May 25 Mark. Read Previous reports on Ross the man and he does not sounds so good, 2 faced money grabber comes to mind. Should suit Sunderland down to a tee
2

WorcesterBlue added 13:37 - May 25 Ah I thought we were doing so well this lunchtime with sone reasoned comments and then Nazemariner has to come up with some casual racism. Well done fella - your must be proud of yourself. Its been Hurst all the way imo and as said Ross clearly didn't impress enough. I certainly think Hurst or Nathan Jones (though he is of course a Taffy T*7t) would be a better option in any case and I still think that Jock ba5t4rd Burley with Butcher would work too - or would he take us down to League 2 as well? Aaaaaaagh :(

-4

Swn98 added 13:38 - May 25 If shrewsbury win the play offs i can envisage Hurst staying at Shrews. Just my opinion of course.
-5

floridaboy added 13:41 - May 25 Good luck to Ross but if they don't get off to a really good start he wont last long. As for Hurst, come on Rotherham although I still think he will come here next week. Bigger salary, better players to work with and our training facilities are some of the best around!!!!
6

davetheblue added 13:41 - May 25 donald seems like a right tw@t ,i am almost glad we have evans
3

BrettenhamBlue added 13:41 - May 25 Strange appointment overall. Ross is good at finding talent that is cheap and cheerful. Sunderland have loads of money. Let's see how that works out.
1

deano85 added 13:44 - May 25 Does that meen we offered him the job??
0

Cheshire_Blue added 13:45 - May 25 If Shrewsbury win the play off final why would Hurst want to move to another Championship Club with no money?
1

bobble added 13:45 - May 25 silly fools didnt realize burley and butcher were available....
2

Northstandveteran added 13:45 - May 25 @Mark. Totally agree. And even if Hurst doesn't come, in Burley and Butcher we have two men to keep the ship steady. Not particularly mine or many others choice, but a one year contract with options at the end of the season wouldn't be a terrible outcome. What has happened to Stejin? Always my preference from the start.
3

Len_Brennan added 13:46 - May 25 The bit about him having "turned down lucrative contracts" from clubs a division above is what grabbed my attention here.
1

borat_the_blue added 13:49 - May 25 I don't think you can look that far ahead NCA. We are not in the same division or have have the same budget. I get your point, I won't be moaning either. Hurst would be my first choice, Ross second. The money and location has helped but they 'wanted him now' we didn't. His budget in league 1 far outweighs the rest of the pack. It's a risky strategy to wait this long, as the demand for managers goes up . So i am really worried that we won't get Hurst as the others are not up to it in my opinion. Praying that this gamble by Evans comes off. Next week can't come soon enough!

1

BrettenhamBlue added 13:49 - May 25 Clubs. Plural. Wonder who else offered him a job?
2

TimmyH added 13:51 - May 25 If Hurst was always number 1 candidate and Ross then came into the frame it makes you wonder why ME wasted all his time with the other interviewees and as Town prepare to 'formalise' Hurst's move here it makes a mockery of the above without even having an interview and not knowing even if Shrewsbury will be promoted. I wonder how their fans will feel if they get promoted and Hurst does come here?

2

Len_Brennan added 13:52 - May 25 @PJewwllisaGod : That's the thing, he previously turned down Barnsley, suggesting that another firm offer has come his way. No other club had been linked him, certainly to the point of a second interview!
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