There could be worrying times ahead for Sunderland, despite a solid season of regeneration in League One.

For all their talent and squad depth, they’re still playing catch up in the top two with games running out.

They’re just two points behind Barnsley with a game in hand, but the recent defeat at Coventry City will have hit them hard.

With both Portsmouth and Charlton on their back, the business end of the season is looking likely to go right down to the last kick.

Off the field, there’s rumours that Jack Ross could be on the hit list of Championship side West Brom. If the Black Cats don’t go up, could it be that Ross takes the step up anyway?

He’s also been mentioned as a possible Scotland manager after their humiliation in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. If Alex McLeish is sacked, then the Scottish FA could come knocking.

Sunderland must make sure these rumours remain just that. The manager has reaffirmed his commitment to the cause this week, claiming he’s not read any papers and wasn’t aware of the speculation, but if the Black Cats revival is going to keep up it’s momentum, they need the focused Scot at the helm.

Sunderland were a sinking ship and as they scraped into League One, their fate could have gone one of two ways. They could have ended up carrying a host of over-paid, under-performing stars and ended up like Coventry and Portsmouth, in League Two.

Instead, under the measured and calculating management of Ross, they rebuilt. His transfer policy was sound, players such as Jack Baldwin and Luke O’Nien wouldn’t have got near the Sunderland side two years ago, but they’ve both proven to be shrewd buys.

The only real flop has been Charlie Wyke and that’s been down to injury as much as anything.

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Ross has built a capable side, stripped back the years of excess and started again. His management hasn’t been perfect, one or two tactical shouts haven’t bene spot on, but he’s gone from St Mirren to arguably one of the biggest clubs in the country.

Whether they go up or not, he must be kept at the club to maintain the regeneration and rebranding that has started under his watch, otherwise all that good work goes to waste.