BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR JACK
Ross says he’s focused on Buddies despite Ipswich talks
Jack Ross insists he remains focused on his role at St Mirren despite increased speculation over his future.
The Saints boss held talks with Ipswich Town last week as the English Championship side ramp up their efforts to find Mick McCarthy’s successor.
More talks appear to be in the pipeline over the course of this week, but Ross was all smiles in Paisley yesterday as he collected the Ladbrokes Championship Manager of the Year award after leading the Buddies to promotion.
Again remaining tightlipped, Ross instead chose to turn his attentions to the work being down to prepare the club for the transition to the Premiership.
He said: “I have always tried to be frank and honest but Ipswich is something I am not willing or able to comment on at the moment.
“There is always a danger in football that people take it as a sign of disloyalty or that you are not doing your job properly.
“Those that know me will know that I have spent every day at Ralston since the season finished trying to make sure that we are in as good a place as we can be for next season.
“As things stand, that is where I will be next season.
“The club is waiting to have communication with Ipswich. I have always been relaxed about it simply because I enjoy this job so much.
“I think it is different if you are in a job that you are unhappy or don’t feel as though it suits you.
“But this job is good, it is a really good club and I’ve said often enough that I am really happy here.
“I am excited about the fact that we have a Premiership season to look forward to.
“That excites me as a manager because it gives me that freshness.
“The pathway to England is one that players and managers want to take because of the huge resources available down there but I am a big advocate of the game up here.
“The recent attention and profile that the Scottish game has received through the likes of Steven Gerrard’s appointment at Rangers as well as the Hibs v Rangers game at the weekend highlights the fact that there are good things happening up here.
“There are good players and managers operating in Scotland and we should embrace that more.”
And although the rumours continue to swirl over where the PFA Manager of the Year will land next, Ross revealed that he has never mapped out a career path for himself – apart from targeting one major ambition.
He said: “I’ve never had preconceived ideas about how I would want my career to go other than the fact I would like to be Scotland manager one day. “That’s romantic for me. “I always wanted to play for Scotland when I was a young boy.
“Now you hear young boys saying they want to play in the English Premier League.
“For me, the ultimate as a manager would be to manage my count ry but beyond that it’s only ever been about doing the best I can in the job I’m in.”