Jack Ross hopes to be at Sunderland next season whatever the coming weeks hold.
At the same time as facing a battle to win the promotion some think should be a given for a club of the Black Cats’ side, Ross has also been linked with the vacant Scotland manager’s jobs.
But the 42-year-old wants to continue the rebuilding job he has started at the Stadium of Light.
“I’m aware that there’s a huge amount of speculation goes around with all managerial jobs now,” said Ross, when asked about the Scotland speculation. “But I’ve already spoken extensively about one, how much I enjoy the job here, and two, how far I’ve got to go to have done the job properly here.
“As you can imagine, my focus has very much been on lifting the players properly from Monday and preparing for this weekend’s game.”
Ross spoke earlier in the season about his ambition to one day manage his country, but is sensible enough not to dive in without the proper grounding, and the fact he has not yet secured promotion may not count in his favour, given outside perceptions. Ross has only managed 170 matches in senior football.
Saturday’s visit of Portsmouth could go a long way to determining where the Black Cats finish. Pompey are two points ahead of the Wearsiders, and both clubs will have two games remaining after Saturday. If second-placed Barnsley win their games against Blackpool (at home on Saturday) and Bristol Rovers (away on the final day), it might not guarantee automatic promotion, but it will confirm Sunderland’s place in the play-offs.
Given the expectations on Ross’ shoulders, failing to take the club out of League One this season will lead to questions about his Stadium of Light future, fairly or otherwise.
“I would love to be the person taking this club forward next season, no matter what happens (in the final few weeks of the season),” said Ross. “I’ve enjoyed the job immensely so far.
“It’s been different, and there’s been lots of things along the way that I’ve had to adapt to and learn from, but I’ve said before how privileged I feel to be manager of this club.
“I don’t ever walk in here and not appreciate what I’ve got to work with, and the structure of the club I’m at.
“The longer I’ve been here, the more I’ve learned. Potential is probably the wrong word because the club has been in a much higher position not too long ago, so it’s not something that’s never been realised.
“But I think a desire to take the club back to a certain level will always be there for me until it happens. I would love to continue to get the opportunity to do that for as long as I can.”
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