Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JACK TO REALITY
After struggling with two World Cup coaches, a couple of Man United legends, a title-winning boss, multi-manager of the year, and some global superstars, Black Cats look to have found the answer by going..
managerial seats. So who did
AMONG the 15 managers Sunderland turn to in their
who have been through darkest hour? A man who
Sunderland’s revolving launched his post-playing
door since the halcyon career at Alloa Athletic!
days of Peter Reid Unlike all his predecessors,
have been some of Jack Ross could probably walk
football’s biggest down most streets in the UK
names. and not attract a flicker of Two World Cup recognition. But this quiet, coaches, a Euro unassuming Scot, an 2016 hero, a pair of economics graduate, who was Manchester Manager of the Year north United legends, of the border last a title-winning season after guiding boss, a boyhood St Mirren to Sunderland promotion, could prove to be the fan, a answer to Sunderland’s former prayers.
Black “You look at what some of them have achieved in the game and it would be easy to feel intimidated, but I’m quite good at being able to detach myself from things like that and focus solely on what I can affect,” said the 42-year-old.
“I could not come here and hold my name up alongside some of them or talk too much about my own career. But I back myself in terms of my manmanagement and what I can do on the training pitch.
“That’s what I am good at. I don’t want to sound arrogant but you have got to have self-belief to succeed.” Though they missed the opportunity to overhaul Cats favour ite, a multicrowned
LMA Manager of the Year and two of the highest profile imports into the English game.
Dick Advocaat,
Mick Mccarthy, Chris Coleman, Roy Keane,
Steve Bruce, Howard Wilkinson, Martin O’neill, Sam Allardyce, David Moyes, Paolo Di Canio and Gus Poyet.
Big names, big reputations but none reached 150 games in charge. Many did not last 12 months in the hottest of Portsmouth at the top of League One when being held to a draw at home to Wycombe last Saturday, the Black Cats look good for an immediate return to the Championship.
Ross has earned the instant respect of his players, both those, like Lee Cattermole (below), who survived the post-relegation cull and the ones he has recruited on wages which would have been pocket money to some of the club’s costly recent flops.
While former owner Ellis Short can be accused of mismanagement, his decision to clear the club’s debt offered new chairman Stewart Donald and director Charlie Methven a fresh start. The pair have made it clear Sunderland will become a tight-run business, which, in the short-term at least, must carry on cutting costs.
Donald communicates via a regular hour-long podcast with fans’ website Roker Rapport, once informing listeners which hotel he stayed at and inviting them for a drink in its bar.
At the weekend, the Oxfordbased businessman took a microphone before kick-off to thank the legion of fans who had helped the club install over 30,000 brand new seats.
Donald was cheered to the rafters. Things really are changing at Sunderland FC.