With Sunderland starting the season with new owners and with a new manager, an unfamiliar sense of optimism has swept the North East club.

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The Black Cats suffered what was probably the most embarrassing season in the club's history as they were relegated from the Championship just a year after dropping out of the Premier League.

Simon Grayson and Chris Coleman both failed spectacularly to get Sunderland playing, but the consensus is that Ross will be able to do that this time around.

The club are clear favourites for the League One title with Sky Bet offering odds of 11/4 on Jack Ross getting his hands on the trophy next May.

And Ross believes they are capable of this as well, declaring failure to win the promotion this season would be a failure.

They have been busy in the transfer window as well, bringing in 12 new faces including League One stalwarts Charlie Wyke, Jack Baldwin and Chris Maguire.

So is Ross right? Would not winning promotion equate to failure for Sunderland?

We discuss...

Jay Taylor

For a club the size of Sunderland it is a fair point to make despite the double relegation and the position they have found themselves in.

A team like that in the third tier are always going to have the onus on them to win the league.

I agree that this season will only be successful should the Black Cats get out of League One at the first attempt.

Gary Hutchinson

Absolutely, Sunderland have a big budget in comparison to most. Whilst they might think that paying £1m for Wyke is slumming it but if 70% of clubs in the division received a similar fee they'd be crying with joy.

They might be a fresh squad, they might need time to gel, but they absolutely have to be top six, if not top two come May.

George Dagless

I think he's right.

Of course, Sunderland need time to settle but they've brought in many new players that should fire them back up.

They look very strong indeed.

Jay Williams

I think that has to be the minimum goal but given Sunderland's mentality, it is not necessarily the case.

The most important thing for Black Cats is to stabilise, reverse their losing mentality which has seen them suffer two relegations in consecutive years and then start pushing back up the league table.

With the squad they have got, promotion is a very realistic ambition, but it is not the only way that next year can be a success.

Christian Fuller

Bold words from Ross! But, why not be that confident and brave?

Sunderland have made some terrific signings this summer, on permanent deals and loans, and will definitely be considered title contenders, and rightly so.

Chris Gallagher

Without a doubt.

Sunderland are the biggest club in the league and everyone expects promotion connected to the Black Cats. There's no point pretending otherwise.