TYKE IT OR LEAVE IT
CHAMPIONSHIP GAFFER’S BIG DECISION Money urges Ross not to quit – but English riches may be too tempting
ST MIRREN legend Campbell Money has urged Jack Ross to stay but fears the Buddies gaffer could be tempted to take over at Barnsley.
Money reckons the lure of the English Championship and the riches on offer could sway Ross to leave Paisley despite guiding the club to the verge of a welcome return to the Premiership.
Saints look certs to secure promotion back to the top flight for the first time since 2015 as they sit 14 points clear of Livingston and Dundee United in the Championship with just 12 games to go.
Barnsley have now made an official approach for Ross and it’s understood he is keen to discuss a possible switch.
The Tykes are searching for a replacement for Paul Heckingbottom, who quit Oakwell this week to take the Leeds job, and Ross is just one of a number of candidates on the club’s wanted list.
The Yorkshire side sit 22nd in the Championship and believe Ross could be the manager to guide them out of the drop zone.
Former St Mirren keeper Money, however, is keeping his fingers crossed Ross will feel he has plenty of unfinished business with the Buddies.
The 1987 Scottish Cup winner said: “If St Mirren were to lose Jack at this stage of the season it would be a massive blow. From a St Mirren perspective I would love Jack to stay and finish the job he has started.
“He has done a fantastic job over the period of time he has been here and the club are well on course to be promoted back to the Premiership.
“Jack has brought a feelgood factor back to Paisley, the crowds are up and the fans are really enjoying the brand of football the team are producing. I don’t want him to go anywhere.
“In saying that I feel the potential of managing a club like Barnsley could prove very tempting for him. The English Championship is a fantastic level and the riches on offer down south can be staggering.
“Jack could easily triple his wages for a start. Just getting the chance to manage in England might be the carrot that tempts him to try his luck down there.
“He clearly has something about him and possesses real managerial quality. He has an eye for a player and some of the signings he’s made for St Mirren have been very impressive.
“The board have shown loyalty to Jack and Gordon Scott has bankrolled him in the transfer market which has resulted in the club mounting their challenge for the title this season.
“But if he goes to Barnsley and performs anything like he has with St Mirren he will be a huge success and that could open up all sorts of doors for him.
“That’s why it must be really tempting for him to quit at this stage because of Barnsley’s potential and the chance it could possibly lead to bigger and better things.”
But Money cited Robbie Neilson as the perfect example that the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere. He lasted just over 13 months in the MK Dons hotseat after quitting as Hearts manager in December 2016.
Money believes it would be a gamble for Ross to opt for Barnsley but is also well aware the opportunity may not arise again.
He said: “Sometimes these opportunities only come along once in your career.
“That is the gamble Jack will have to take.
“Robbie left Hearts and things went well initially for him at MK Dons but he has since ended up out of a job.
“Managers do no get any time these days to sort things out, especially in England.
“As soon as they go through a bad spell they soon lose their job.
“As we saw in Robbie’s case England can be a more unforgiving environment than Scotland and it tends to be more brutal in its treatment of managers.
“Whatever Jack chooses to do, St Mirren will have benefited greatly from his stewardship.
“If he does leave then I believe whoever takes over will still be able to take St Mirren back into the Premiership.
“Whatever Jack decides I wish him good luck.”