We’re hurting...but we are grateful too
Be grateful that it happened. This is unashamedly an ode to Jack Ross – the greatest catalyst of St Mirren success in generations.
Ross finally left St Mirren yesterday following a saga more gripping than that of the original JR himself.
Sunderland? I would like to say it was a surprise, but it has only been a matter of time before he was poached from elsewhere.
It brings the curtain down on what has proven to be some of the most enjoyable 18 months in the club’s recent history. And that is all thanks to one man.
It cannot be understated just how big an impact Ross has had on St Mirren FC.
The club he inherited was a laughing stock following years of heartache and relegation in the wake of their League Cup success in 2013.
Sitting staring another relegation in the face, with a squad littered with the Kyle Huttons and Ryan Hardies of this world, Ross was sold on a dream of turning the side he once starred for back into the force it was when he himself wore the black and white stripes.
With a coy smile on his face he welcomed the challenge with open arms.
But his arrival in October 2016 was greeted with trepidation.
There is no point in lying about it...following years of hurt as Saints swerved from one bad appointment to the next, from Ian Murray to Alex Rae, the St Mirren support was left not knowing what to expect from the fresh-faced rookie manager making the leap from Alloa full of big ideas and promises.
As it turned out, the day Jack Ross walked into St Mirren Football Club was the day the revolution began. We just didn’t know it.
Taking control of every aspect of the inner workings of the club, Ross was meticulous in his detail as he plotted a revival Rocky would have been proud of.
Slowly but surely he dragged the once sorry club off of the canvas following years of wallowing in their own misery.
Not afraid to speak his mind, there was of course the infamous wading into the crowd.
There were heavy defeats, and there were doubts creeping in following a slow start to life in the hotseat.
But for once there actually appeared to be a plan – whereas those that had come before appeared to be short of ideas.
Ten in, ten out was greeted by laughter in that famous January transfer window. But there was method in the madness... and that wasn’t just Stelios.
What followed next will be stuff of legend in years to come.
The greatest relegation escape in the history of the club? I’d say so.
Not one person outwith St Mirren believed they had a hope of staying up that season, and there were more than a few doubters inside the club as well.
But the manner of the survival and the free-flowing brand of football was Jack Ross incarnate.
If St Mirren were going to go down they were going to go down in style.
And it was typical of St Mirren to have to go to the league leaders, on the final day, to do it.
Then there was a title win almost unparralled, 2000 aside, in the manner in which Saints displayed a swagger and confidence of a side knowing fine well they were the best team in the league.
Will we add in a cup final, or some of the transfers that he overseen, the likes of Cammy Smith and Stephen McGinn to name just but two?
Ross has presided over it all. And unfortunately, Sunderland have found themselves a keeper.
Of course it would be easy to act the jilted ex in this situation.
But the outpouring of emotion, both positive and negative, shows just how highly regarded Ross’ efforts are regarded among the Saints support no matter how angry they are that their manager is away.
Ross made St Mirren respected again, and yes, he made St Mirren great again.
Forget the manner in which some suggest he left. Look past the disappointment of him leaving when things finally appeared to be turning.
Put the handkerchiefs away just for one moment and take a step back.
Think of the memories made in what was a relatively short period of time.
You saw first hand what he done for St Mirren, you saw the job that he done.
It would be easy to look past that with the misty eyes and the lump in your throat. Be angry. Be sad.
But be grateful for Jack Ross.