Cats boss Jack aims to build on Six Nations win
Jack Ross seems to be on a winning streak – one he cheekily claims began with Scotland’s Calcutta Cup triumph over England in February.
That may sound odd coming from Sunderland’s new manager.
But Ross, who quit St Mirren for the Stadium of Light after leading the Buddies to the Scottish Championship, rubbed shoulders with Gregor Townsend and his side in the build-up to their 25-13 defeat of the English in the Six Nations showdown at Murrayfield.
Ross revealed: “I was in contact with Gregor. He spoke on my pro-licence course and, on the back of that, I asked if I could go and see how he worked.
“I’d been interested in his approach since his time at Glasgow Warriors because he had completely changed the culture of that club and had a successful period.
“Then he went to the national team, and he has also transformed them to a certain extent.
“He speaks really well and passionately loves coaching. There were similarities in what we were doing, and he’s really interested in all sports.
“Ironically enough, I spent a day with him in the week they won against England, which they hadn’t done for a long time – so I was taking a wee bit of credit for that!
“But it was brilliant, because it was the day they announced their team. In rugby they do that on a Tuesday, which is very different to what we do in football.
“I’m interested in people who can lead really well – not just in football and other sports but in life – because it’s not an easy thing to do.’’
There has been no greater leader than Sir Alex Ferguson and, in his days as Manchester United manager, he told his skipper – future Sunderland boss Roy Keane – that the Black Cats are “a bloody big club’’.
They now languish in League One, but Ross, unveiled to the media on Wearside on the 40th anniversary of Ferguson’s sacking by St Mirren, said: “Having been in and around the club, it’s entirely accurate – it’s a fair description.
“But that doesn’t mean to say you will be successful. That’s the challenge.
“There are aspects of clubs in Scotland it has happened to. Just because you’re a big club doesn’t give you an automatic right to be successful.’’
Ross, who admits “one or two’’ players from the Scottish game could join him at Sunderland, is in talks with former Black Cats skipper and caretaker boss, Kevin Ball, about a new role at the club.
Ross said: “I’m meeting with Kevin. It helps me.
“I’m happy to absorb knowledge and experiences of others because coming into any new job, it’s impossible for you to know it all.
“Broader than that, I need to be educated more on the English game, because I need to do that quickly as well.’’