You’ve nothing to fear
Jack’s message to Saints
Jack Ross insists former club St Mirren should have no relegation fears – despite handing them a 6-0 drubbing over the weekend.
Ross, who returned to Paisley for the first time since taking the Sunderland job, believes the Buddies have more than enough in their locker to make a success of the Premiership.
He highlighted the momentum the club created during his time in charge as a key factor in the early stages of next season.
And he also pointed to the experience and talent that he worked with during his 20 months at the helm as players that could become key.
Saints have struggled in their last two outings against Spartans and the Black Cats, leaving them with having to find a run of form ahead of their season opener with Dundee in less than a fortnight’s time. Ross said: “I think they will be fine. “I think there is a rebuilding process under way just now and I don’t think that is just because Alan is here now.
“I’ve said openly that would be the same for me because that was a squad that was built to win the Championship and then be progressive in the Premiership. “They are two different things. “There is still a core of players there I worked with that I believe are good players.
“I can’t comment on the other ones because I don’t work with them every day but there are players here that are used to winning games over the past 20 months and they will need to dig deep into that experience to keep the club pushing forward.”
Ross is finally beginning to put his own stamp on Sunderland, with Saturday’s 6-0 win over Saints his biggest since taking the reins at the Stadium of Light.
He highlighted the similarity between the two jobs, in Paisley and Sunderland, as he gets to grips with his new role.
He added: “There is a fair amount of synergy between the two jobs as they have both had their struggles in recent times.
“There had probably been a little bit of disconnect between people at the two clubs for a variety of reasons, and for different reasons.
“But, for me as a manager, it will be a brilliant experience either way, and I have learned an awful lot over the course of that eight weeks already.
“It is a bit like when I came to St Mirren. I knew a lot of people had an affection for the club and it was about digging deep to find that connection again.”