Drop of reality may be behind the exits of Ross and Hopkin

IN the week Steven Gerrard officially took over as the new manager of Rangers, two bosses decided to check out of Scottish football.

The Premiership is braced for one of the most hotly anticipated and exciting seasons in the past six years.

Yet Jack Ross and David Hopkin have quit St Mirren and Livingston respectively.

What a way for Ross to bow out of Paisley on the high of leading them to the Championship title.

Hopkin also took Livi into the Premiership and did it on a shoestring budget via the play-offs where the odds are heavily stacked against second-tier sides.

Timing in football is everything and the stock of both men has never been higher.

Ross in particular looks to have landed on his feet at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are English football’s sleeping giant but perennial under-achievers.

The Wearsiders are now debt free after a change of ownership and Ross has a blank canvas.

There is a clearer picture now, which was not the case when Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes looked under the bonnet and knocked the job back last summer.

New Sunderland owners Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven have promised Ross the biggest budget in the league to help him bring the club straight back up to the Championship.

For Hopkin there seems to be no shortage of suitors with Bradford, Barnsley and Carlisle all reportedly keen to secure his services.

There are cautionary tales of managers who have recently tried their luck south of the border and realised the grass is not always greener.

Ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon endured a torrid time in his two-year stint with Bolton between 2014 and 2016. Former Hibs manager Alan Stubbs guided the Leith men to their historic first Scottish Cup triumph in 114 years then upped sticks when Rotherham batted their eyelashes.

Stubbs lasted just months with the Millers.

Robbie Neilson also left Hearts for MK Dons when the Jambos were in second spot in the Premiership in 2016.

Neilson remained in charge of MK Dons for just over two years.

Both of them are still out of a job but Stubbs and Neilson have been talked about as possible replacements for Ross at St Mirren.

While one can understand Ross taking the Sunderland gig to an extent – he is dropping down to the English third tier.

As for Hopkin, surely managing Bradford, Barnsley or Carlisle can’t be as exciting as pitting your wits against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic or Gerrard’s Rangers?

I’m not knocking either man for choosing to jump ship at this particular juncture.

However, their respective decisions are a clear admission chasing titles and promotion is a far better gig than trying to stave off relegation.

It is fair to say St Mirren, Livingston and Hamilton will be early favourites for the drop.

Which is probably the real indicator as to why Ross and Hopkin didn’t fancy sticking around the top flight.

Scottish football’s loss is very much England’s gain.