JUMPING JACK
Ross is ready to quit Saints for Sunderland
ST MIRREN last night granted Jack Ross permission to become the new manager of Sunderland.
Ross is poised to return home from a holiday in Dubai to confirm a two-year deal with the Wearsiders worth £350,000 a year.
But his Paisley employers have also secured an enhanced compensation deal worth £100,000 after unhappy chairman Gordon Scott accused Sunderland of ‘major skulduggery’ over their pursuit of the man who led Saints back to the Scottish top flight.
New Sunderland owner Stewart Donald put the cart before the horse when he told talkSPORT yesterday morning that terms had been agreed with an unnamed manager.
However, the Black Cats had yet to make an official approach to Saints seeking formal permission to speak to Ross.
They finally made their move later in the day, bumping up the original compensation fee of
£50,000 to appease a furious St Mirren. Donald had earlier told the radio station he was close to getting the man he wanted to replace Chris Coleman. ‘On the manager front, we have agreed literally this morning, so we are just drawing up contracts with the man we want. ‘We’ve agreed terms and literally the contracts are with the lawyers. The man in question is absolutely thrilled and I’m absolutely delighted that he’s coming.’ Pushed on the identity of the man he wanted, Donald declined to name names but ruled out a return for Coleman or Mick McCarthy, and confirmed it was not Frank Lampard, Neil Lennon, Kevin Phillips or Alan Pardew. This all pointed towards Ross, the bookmakers’ hot favourite for several days. St Mirren chairman Scott reacted with fury to reports that Ross was on his way to the relegated English Championship side. ‘There has been no contact from Sunderland with us and Jack is on holiday,’ he said, ‘so unless there is major skulduggery going on, then it’s nonsense. ‘To hold talks with Jack, we would have to grant permission. But we’ve had no contact from Sunderland at all.’ That would change later, with St Mirren’s directors last night locked in a prearranged board meeting after the club released a statement reading: ‘St Mirren can confirm we received a formal approach from Sunderland this afternoon for permission to speak to our manager. ‘After agreeing to our terms, we have reluctantly given them permission to speak to Jack Ross.’ Former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson and Alloa manager and ex-Saints captain Jim Goodwin are among the frontrunners to replace him.