He has delivered on everything – Jack’s just the lad for us
CATS’ OWNERS MADE ‘RIGHT DECISION’
JACK Ross has delivered on everything he promised in his summer job interview and proved he was the right managerial appointment, says Sunderland director Charlie Methven.
Ross had looked destined to swap St Mirren for Championship side Ipswich Town in the summer until Sunderland’s new owners moved quickly to snatch him from under the noses of the Tractor Boys and bring him to Wearside.
He has overseen a major turnover of playing staff during the close-season, assembled a squad capable of challenging for automatic promotion and has seen his side lose just one of its first 15 games to lie third in the table within striking distance of the summit.
Not only that, Sunderland fans have quickly taken to the calm and assured Scot and have been hugely impressed with the way he has set about restoring their club’s reputation on the field after backto-back relegations.
Executive director and partowner Methven said: “Jack is extremely professional in his dealings with the board, his staff, the fans and the media.
“This club needed that level of clarity and leadership.
“He is the boss, everyone knows he is the boss, we (the owners] don’t tread on his toes and try to get involved.
“He knows what his task is, what are the tools he has been given to do the job in terms of the academy and the budget he is working to.
“We are not having to manage an ego, someone who is erratic, someone who has issues with fans or with the media.
“He is professional and he has delivered on what he said he would do in his interview with us.
“We have not regretted appointing him even for one second in the six months he has been here.”
Ross became Sunderland’s ninth permanent manager in less than six years when he was appointed in May, signing a twoyear contract at the Stadium of Light. He has frequently spoken of his desire to take Sunderland back to the Premier League.
Methven added: “What happens in the future? We all know football, we just don’t know what will happen.
“The important thing is he has delivered on the style and the structure – everything he said in his interview he has done and you cannot ask for
more than that.”