Jack Ross insists the uncertainty around Sunderland has no bearing on him as he prepares for arguably the most important game of his managerial career.
The build-up to the Black Cats’ play-off semi-final against Portsmouth, the second leg of which is on Thursday, has coincided with badly-timed stories about new owners or investors, and the future of those behind the scenes on the football side.
Chairman Stewart Donald has always been open about seeking new investment – indeed, executive director Charlie Methven wrote about it in the programme for Saturday’s home leg – but not for the first time this season, had to bat away premature stories that a deal to buy some or all of his shareholding was close . He also returned from his self-imposed Twitter holiday on Tuesday to deny reports that head of recruitment Tony Coton had left. That morning there were stories circulating in Scotland that former Celtic chief scout John Park would be the Black Cats’ new director of football .
Manager Ross was pleading ignorance when asked what he knew about the situation.
“I just work on the basis that if there’s anything important to tell me, they will,” said Ross.
“I’ve had a good relationship with Stewart from day one and that continues to be the case.
“Ultimately that side of the club is his business.
“Hopefully if there is anything important they need to tell me, I’ll find out.
“I’ve not heard anything that changes my role and how I go about it. Most of what I heard has been instigated by them (the board) rather than me.”
With a 1-0 lead to defend in Thursday’s second leg, Ross and his squad have plenty to focus on without thinking about matters off the field.
“It doesn’t affect me,” he said. “My only focus is on doing my job.
“I could lose my job because we’re not winning games, or I can lose my job for other reasons. I can’t control that.
“What I can control is how I do the job and I take pride in what I do in that respect.
“The only thing I can affect is the preparation of the players and the only thing the players can affect is the performance on the pitch.
“The end of the season was a good time for us to refocus and regroup because there’s been a lot of external noise full stop – not just with takeovers but with other things as well.
“So we just used the season end as an opportunity to galvanise ourselves and I think that was reflected in the performance on Saturday night.
“I’m aware of the speculation, but my job is to continue to prepare the team as well as I can.”
Ross also said the first he had heard about Park’s potential arrival was when he was briefed by Sunderland’s media department ahead of the pre-match Press conference for Thursday’s second leg at Fratton Park.
Coton was appointed last summer as part of the revamp which brought Donald, Ross, his coaching staff, head of football operations Richard Hill and managing director Tony Davison into senior roles. The former Sunderland, Watford and Manchester United goalkeeper has signed 17 players and moved 11 on in an eventful year which also saw him undergo a quintuple heart bypass operation.
“I work closely with Tony Coton and he’s had a difficult year health-wise but he’s been brilliant with me and become a friend,” Ross said. “As far as I’m concerned that continues to be the case.”
The away goals rule does not apply in the play-offs, so any one-goal win for Portsmouth would take the tie to extra-time or penalties. The eventual winner will play Doncaster Rovers or Charlton Athletic, who take a 2-1 lead back to The Valley on Friday.
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