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Sunderland Confirm Ross Appointment
Friday, 25th May 2018 13:10

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



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NICK1978 added 16:30 - May 25
He has taking the easy option, Sunderland will be favourites to go back up. Ipswich will be another challenging season with no money to spend.
3

WadeyBlue added 16:39 - May 25
I still think part of the reason he has turned down Championship clubs inc us is because its a step to far. If you thought that maybe you would be better off stepping up only as far at League 1 atm and Sunderland came in with new money etc, you couldnt ask for a better league 1 club to manage.
4

gosblue added 17:02 - May 25
Oh well, Ross was my pick but hey-ho. I'm sure there are discussions going on behind closed doors between Shrewsbury's owners and ours. If so, I am impressed that it hasn't been leaked. Also hurst must be very flattered that we are holding on until he would be available if that is the case. Of all the Manager-go-round links, I would be least disappointed with Chris Coleman. I seem to recall he did a half decent job at Fulham and he's still only 47.
0

deano85 added 17:10 - May 25
I want to know who this other mystery candidate is??
Im sure i read 3 people had a second interview with hurst still to go..? Ross, lampard and someone else..?
1

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 17:15 - May 25
A few weeks ago, most of us didn't know this guy existed. We can't be all cut up about it now. Onward and upward.
5

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 17:18 - May 25
And to be honest, for St. Mirren to have been so blind sided by this, it looks like there may have been discussions going on the team ownership wasn't aware of considering how fast this happened. If that is indeed the case, do we really want someone like that in our ranks anyway?
3

LWNR2013 added 17:31 - May 25
Scott Parkerwas interviewed I believe
1

ldnj added 17:39 - May 25
I hope Gary White gets interviewed, he does sound an interesting candidate.
0

warktheline added 17:54 - May 25
Keep joining the dots people! I haven't seen anything that cements Hurst to Ipswich! Evans certainly goes about his 'football matters' in a peculiar way!!!!
4

hollywoodginge added 18:08 - May 25
I'm very proud of how town are handling their business here, particularly with Hurst and towards Shrewsbury, this is very Ipswich indeed. Also it needs to be remembered that nobody made any comment from the club regards to Ross, it was all media comments, so again conducted in the right way. If Hurst is our number 1 target I feel we are right to allow him to have a chance to talk after his business is resolved. I have no ill feeling toward Ross, he's done no wrong and in fact I commend him for starting lower down in the EFL, and feel it will only serve to better him in his pursuits and I wish him well. I really hope Hurst is appointed, and feel he will be. Again credit to Marcus in the way he's conducting business ATM, a great reflection on the club.
7

jas0999 added 18:17 - May 25
Providing Evans does appoint Hurst, then no issue. Hurst would be a great appointment.

Let's hope it doesn't happen, but if Hurst did decide to stay at Shrewsbury, or is snapped up by another club, then losing out on Ross as well would be somewhat disappointing. Other options don't look so appealing. No doubt Evans wanted Ross or Hurst.

Sunderland certainly moved very quickly. Good for them. Good luck to Ross to.
1

ormey75 added 18:18 - May 25
As soon as Sunderland got to speak with Ross it was all over, we can compete with anyone these days, I think we would struggle to out muscle Colchester if it came down to it, we never get who we really want, we seem to go for the cheapest option, obviously got to give hurst a chance if it is him but I wanted to see Ross but beggars can't be choosers
-1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:57 - May 25
Ross is really on a hiding to nothing. I suspect Scumberland will want results pretty quickly. Any lack of success (play-offs minimum?) will be deemed a failure. At a club with those resources, he really ought to succeed in Div. 1, but football, as we know, can be unpredictable. Anyway, more concerned now with who we get. Let's move on.
1

Dissboyitfc added 19:00 - May 25
orney75... MM was well well paid!
1

emergencylime added 19:04 - May 25
Regardless of who we appoint, i think we're destined to get the Mackems in a cup run now
1

oldblue added 19:05 - May 25
I dont have a problem with the interview process..its the norm in big business not the normal panic ...whoever comes must buy into the ITFC philosophy ..ie Robson/Burley but most have not ..Duncan/Jewell/Keane/.McCarthy ..so lets get the right man ..one who wants to come here with the right credentials philosophy and values...it will be a difficult job and don't expect immediate results ..build the team ..win back support and provide entertainment on the pitch and hopefully ride the wave to success .

I sm glad its not some of the non thinkers on this site making decisions !!
5

tractorollson added 19:29 - May 25
No loss, next. Think it may well be Grayson or Lampard personally
-1

shakytown added 19:36 - May 25
I wonder what the odds will be on him getting sacked within 3 months????? If Sunderland are not top of league 1 all the way he is in trouble.
2

Seasider added 19:56 - May 25
After reading what Grumpy had said about Ross and 'Pool',then I am not too bothered.
Could turn out to be a one season wonder whereas Hurst far better CV.

Still wouldn't mind Steijn or Lamps either.

Should know next week.
3

SickParrot added 20:12 - May 25
I hope that TWTD are correct in reporting that Hurst now "appears to be a shoo-in to take over at Town". He has been my preferred candidate all along.

For him to be a "shoo-in" (a certainty) we must have had contact with him (presumably with Shrewsbury's consent) and he must have confirmed that he will take the job. In these circumstances (whilst it would be prudent to talk to other candidates in case Hurst changes his mind) would ME require Ross and Lampard to attend a second interview, as TWTD has also reported?

I hope I am wrong but I fear that there is no agreement with Hurst and that if Shrewsbury are promoted he will stay there and if they are not he could go to another club (Derby?). This could well turn out to be another ME cock-up. Don't be surprised if we finish up with a manager that nobody else wants like Pardoe or Sherwood.
0

Len_Brennan added 20:56 - May 25
Considering we still haven't managed to get Bart to sign his 'done deal' contract after all these months, it was hard to read the expression "shoe-in"with overwhelming confidence & it's noteworthy that the reference has now been removed from the article.
2

LegendofthePhoenix added 02:54 - May 26
I would be very surprised if there haven't been "informal" discussions between mE and Hurst, especially bearing in mind Hurst's comments earlier in which he very carefully didn't commit to staying at Shrewsbury. Don't forget ME is one of the richest businessmen in the UK, he is no mug. Hurst has been my first choice all along, will be over the moon if his appointment is confirmed. This will be a great season for Town, haven't been so excited about our prospects for many years.
2

bigolconnor added 08:06 - May 26
As far as i'm aware Marcus Evans hasnt publicly said who he is after. So it's all press speculation that there was ever firm interest in anyone. That and the fact that we know a few interviews have taken place. To say that we have missed out on anyone is guesswork. I suspect that with ME's mysterious “we are going to try something different” we might be seeing a manager appointed who hasn't even been mentioned yet or at least one of the more obscure ones. This is why i thought Lampard with Burley as director of football until Burley applied. Obviously any up and coming manager isn't going to want a fellow applicant as a mentor, unless of course they are coming from a foreign league???
0

sovereignblue added 09:55 - May 26
Gary White is the standout man for me he's completely transformed every team he's touched with very limited player pools . I love the way he talked about becoming the next Sir Alf/Sir Bobby in the EADT times interview, gave me a sense that he knows what this club is all about.Well worth a read of his Wikipedia page and reading the EADT interview if you haven't already (worth reading again if you have)
A Midas touch man is what we need to take us back to the TWTD days.
I'd start a campaign if i knew how to go about it !!!
2

blueboy1981 added 10:12 - May 26
Speculation, speculation, speculation - the only one who knows who the next Manager will be is Evans.

Move on people - and don't fill this space will hollow, unfounded words. Just be PATIENT.
1


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