Fan Letters: “Jack Ross’s position is constantly under scrutiny - can we lay off him a bit?!”

Dear Roker Report,

So. Now that the tabloids have said that Big Sam is “interested” in the Sunlun job, because the word billionaire has been bandied about and Pep and Jürgen are a bit busy, we have conundrum.

Jack Ross was given a two year task to get us back into the Championship. Half way through this period we got to to the playoff final and had another day out at Wembley in the Neither Nor There Trophy, which gave our long suffering fans an afternoon to let off a bit of warranted steam.

There is a 99.9% chance that we have some financial interest from across the pond, and we have a manager who has done all he can.

Why don’t we just give Jack Ross a proper chance and see if he can do the job?

Trevor Cockburn

Ed’s Note [Gav]: I think that we ultimately don’t have to particularly like or enjoy Jack’s methods if he’s getting results. If Sunderland are winning games and look on track to achieve their short and medium term aims then he probably has done enough to deserve a chance to carry on his job.

Last season is gone, it’s behind us, and it should be the results this season that define his tenure with the club. I think most supporters would have agreed at the start of the season that the ten league game point was a fair place to judge where Sunderland were headed under Jack, and we’ve yet to reach that stage.

I’m strictly on the fence with Jack. I’ve not always enjoyed his style of football and I sometimes wonder if he’s the right type of character to succeed here, but if he shows he’s willing to learn whilst continuing to pick up decent results then he will eventually win over the supporters who are demanding only the best from their manager and team week after week.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

I think Jack has done a good job considering the free fall we were in before last season. I can’t see how results this season can jeopardise his position.

Stan Kernen

Ed’s Note [Gav]: The constant scrutiny of Jack’s position is as a direct result of the fact we failed to get promoted last season.

If people were patient before then that feeling has gone - people want and demand to see instant results and progress. Any sign that things aren’t headed in the right direction and we go right back to the same point - “is this man good enough for the job?” - and I think that Jack has to accept that and take it on the chin when people are constantly questioning his position.

That said, I think he’s right to defend himself in press conferences, like we saw before the Rotherham game. I’d rather see a bit of fight from him, particularly when he believes in what he’s trying to achieve.