Sun sets on Ross/sunderland sack Scot amid claims takeover has fallen through
Sunderland have sacked manager Jack Ross amid claims that a prospective takeover of the club has collapsed.
The Black Cats parted company with the 43-yearold Scot yesterday afternoon barely an hour after a report emerged that a consortium led by American businessmen Glenn Fuhrman, Robert Platek and John Phelan – MSD Partners – had ended its interest in the League One club due to the asking price.
Announcing Ross’ departure, chairman Stewart Donald said: “This is a decision that has been made with a heavy heart. When we arrived at the club 18 months ago, we appointed Jack because we felt that he was the right man to take Sunderland forward over a number of years.
“Jack has worked extremely hard, and has helped us achieve stability at the club and I sincerely thank him for his efforts. I hope and believe that he will go on to have a successful career in management.”
Assistant manager James Fowler was handed the reins for last night’s leasing. com Trophy clash against Grimsby with the the hunt for a replacement due to get under way today.
The Black Cats currently lie sixth in the League One table, four points off the automatic promotion places with a game in hand on second-placed Wycombe, in their second campaign in the third tier after back-toback relegations. Former St Mirren boss Ross was handed the task of dragging them back into the Sky Bet Championship last summer and missed out in the playoff final with his side having drawn 19 of their 46 league games.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Lincoln proved the final straw for many of the club’s supporters and, ultimately, for Donald, too.