Ross has ‘huge’ respect for exDons boss after all his support
did enjoy eight years at the helm in the north east. But when it was put to Ross – axed two months into his second season on Wearside – there’s no loyalty in football, he said: “That’s a given.
“For us now as managers, the opinion of whether you are good or bad changes almost on a weekly basis. Or game by game.
“You are either really good at the job or really bad. The truth is usually somewhere in between.
“The people who are managing at a certain level of the game have the ability to do so and have proven that.
“They will make mistakes, get things wrong and have football go against them. Speak to any manager – that’s the hardest part of our job. You can work tirelessly at it, prepare as thoroughly as you can and things can happen on a matchday you have no control over.
“We’re not asking for sympathy from people because we’re in a job a lot of people would love to do. But unless you are doing it, you don’t fully understand it. It is pretty relentless.
“Mentally it is tiring and draining to have the energy, want and desire to keep churning it out year after year. Derek is also working at a club where there are expectations every single year.
“He’s had that for eight years and continually wanted to do the job to the best of his ability.
“Derek has got really strong managerial leadership qualities. “That’s why he’s had the time in the job and why undoubtedly, should he choose, he’ll go on and be a success somewhere else.” Ross is determined to ensure any potential new boss bounce at Pittodrie has no bearing on his own side’s push to finish in the top three for the first time in 16 years. A win in Dingwall tomorrow would see them go into the final six matches with a significant cushion. And he said: “It’s a huge game for us at the weekend. “If we can control our results and control them in a positive way, we don’t have to worry about anyone else.”