Ross has to battle fat Cats
New Sunderland owner Stewart Donald admits Jack Ross has had his work cut-out due to a mass squad sulk.
The Black Cats were relegated from the Championship last season but Donald revealed the Big Time Charlies feel they are too good to play in League One.
It’s a measure of the task that former St Mirren gaffer Ross faces as he tries to restore the famous club’s fortunes.
Donald said: “It has been a big job for Jack. He has been confronted with senior pros who had no interest in playing in the third tier.
“We knew, if we were to compete, we needed to bring in more quality players, which has been hard.
“But with the money I’ve brought to the table I know a lot of Championship clubs would like to have our budget for players.”
Donald has swapped the relative peace and quiet of Southern England with non-league Eastleigh for the mayhem of the Stadium of Light.
He invested around £7million attempting to propel Eastleigh into the EFL and is now charged with reinventing the Black Cats after back-to-back relegations.
Donald and Ross have focused on slashing an excessive wage bill that stood at £35m when the new owner took over, a crippling sum for a side beginning a season in the third tier.
He has also been tasked with getting rid of players who clearly didn’t want to be on Wearside and backing his manager.
The former Saints boss is only on a short-term contract and earning considerably less than the £1m a year predecessor Chris Coleman was pocketing.
There’s an acknowledgement that Sunderland can’t hang around in League One.
According to UEFA’s latest annual report, Sunderland are saddled with the 13th biggest debt in European football.
Donald added: “For a club with one of the largest fan bases, stadiums and academies in the country to find itself in League One is unacceptable.
“We have to hit the ground running this season.
“I must admit I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof but we’re going to give it a real go.”