St Mirren have reportedly offered Jack Ross an improved contract as they bid to keep their manager amid interest from Ipswich Town and Sunderland.
The 41-year-old secured the Scottish Championship title last season after inheriting a side sitting bottom of the table just 18 months prior, with his efforts putting him on the radar of a number of English clubs.
Ipswich have been granted permission to speak to the Scot, with owner Marcus Evans thought to have met with him on two occasions, while there is also thought to be contact from Sunderland as the Black Cats bid to replace Chris Coleman.
But reports in Scotland suggest St Mirren have made moves to keep their manager by offering him an improved deal.
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He previously remained with the Paisley club following talks with then Championship side Barnsley in February.
When discussing the Ipswich vacancy after news of the Blues’ approach became public, Ross admitted he would ‘listen to what Ipswich had to say’ but insisted his focus remains on preparing St Mirren for their return to the Scottish top flight.
“I would listen to what they have to say but I did that previously [with Barnsley],” he said.
“I know that football is such an emotive business and people might see that as a lack of loyalty, but I did that previously and decided the current position I’m in is best and I’ll take the same approach.
“What interests me is trying to reach the highest levels I can as a manager and that’s what I would have to assess as well.
“The pathway I’ve been on at the moment has enabled me to try and progress and I would like to keep doing that one way or the other.
“Until anything changes it’s about me doing my job to the best of my abilities and even on Friday I spent the day at Ralston, our training ground, and that will continue to be the case until anything changes.”
MORE: Ipswich face competition from Sunderland for Ross and Hurst
The Blues appear to face competition from Sunderland for both Ross and Shrewsbury’s Paul Hurst, as the Black Cats look to replace Coleman following their relegation to League One.
It is the start of a new era at the Stadium of Light, with Stewart Donald’s international consortium completing their takeover from American Ellis Short, with appointing a new manager their first item of business. They say they hope to make their appointment within a week.
Blues owner Evans continues to work to the timeline he set himself at the beginning of his search for a manager, with the businessman stating in an address to fans in April that he expected to appoint a new manager at the ‘end of May or beginning of June’.
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