Jack should stay a Saint... for now
Haining wants to see Ross have a crack at top flight
Former St Mirren favourite Will Haining insists that Jack Ross should stick with Saints for a crack at the Premiership.
Uncertainty remains over the gaffer’s future after the club granted Ross permission to speak to English Championship side Ipswich Town last week.
The 41-year-old is believed to have already held talks with the Suffolk outfit, with negotiations set to continue into this week.
However, Ross’ former Saints teammate Haining, who is back down south having hung up his boots, reckons Ross could be onto bigger and better things if he bided his time.
He told Express Sport: “The links and the attention for Jacko comes as no surprise considering the remarkable job that he has done with St Mirren.
“He is going to get touted for every single job that is going now, and that is testament to just how much he has turned that club around.
“Ipswich are a huge club down here, a massive club, and it would be silly to look past that and say anything otherwise.
“But, for me, they are the type of club that have found their level.
“I personally believe they were crazy to sack Mick McCarthy, he is one of the best managers down here and the job he has done over the years was brilliant.
“Are Ipswich going to be a side pushing for promotion? Probably not. They are where they are for a reason and it will be up to Jack to see if it is the right fit for him.
“There are going to be a number of jobs coming up over the next few months and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him being linked with them either – if it was me then I would be waiting to see what else comes up.”
Haining, of course, insists he wants to see Ross stay with St Mirren and lead them back into the top flight where the duo once played alongside each other on the Saints backline.
He said: “From a St Mirren point of view, I would like to see Jack at least having a crack at the Premiership and see how far he can take it.
“But he is a clever guy and I am sure he will know exactly when the right time is to move on to something new.
“From discussions, he will get a feel for the club and will know if it suits him.
“However, it would be great to see him continue the work that he has been doing because it has been amazing to see the progress made under his leadership, from sitting bottom of the league last Christmas to now winning the Championship.”
But Haining issued a word of warning to both Saints supporters and Ross, admitting that nothing lasts forever.
He added: “Jack will know better than anyone the work that needs done.
“His stock is at an all-time high right now and rightfully so.
“But football can be a fickle game and these offers, if he continues to turn them down, might not be there in six months’ time.
“You’re just one bad run of form away from being out a job, and Jack will know that himself, sometimes you have to capitalise on that interest.”