Jack Ross was at the Academy of Light today to say his goodbyes less than 24 hours after he was sacked by Sunderland.
Ross was dismissed yesterday afternoon after less than 18 months in charge on Wearside, departing with the Black Cats lying sixth in the League One table and four points outside the automatic promotion places.
But the 43-year-old made a dignified exit, returning this morning to address the first-team squad as a group, and he also spoke collectively to the academy players.
After taking the reins in difficult circumstances on the back of a double relegation and with the club making a series of redundancies, Ross had transformed the atmosphere within the Academy and was a popular figure at the training ground.
And sources within the Academy say there was a queue of players, coaches, groundstaff, catering staff, and other club employees, waiting in line outside the manager's office to speak to Ross in private and wish him well.
Ross' longtime assistant James Fowler, first team coach John Potter, and goalkeeping coach Craig Samson oversaw last night's 3-2 EFL Trophy win over Grimsby Town at the Stadium of Light, and they have also been asked to take training while the club searches for a new manager.
Fowler by staff at the Academy when the news broke yesterday, pointing out the work that Ross had done behind the scenes to bring everyone at the training ground together over the last 17 months.
And he also revealed that Ross had sent a message congratulating the players for their win over the Mariners, which came just hours after he was axed.
Fowler said after the game: "The gaffer has already sent a message tonight saying well done and that is the mark of the man.
"I've worked closely with him over the years and he will be disappointed with the way things have ended today, but he can leave the club with his head held high.
"He has achieved a lot of things behind the scenes in terms of how he has brought the Academy, as a whole, back together again – I think everybody in the Academy would vouch for that.
"He has also built a great relationship with the staff at the academy, not just footballing staff but non-footballing staff.
"There have been tears shed today.
"That’s credit to him for bringing everybody back to together again."
