St Mirren manager Jack Ross has revealed for the first time his reasons for turning down the opportunity to be Paul Hartley’s successor at Dundee.
After Neil McCann announced he was returning to his Sky Sports job, Dark Blues’ managing director John Nelms flew abroad to meet the 41-year-old, who was on a family holiday.
Nelms sounded him out but Ross eventually made it clear that he would be staying in Paisley.
McCann then had second thoughts and was appointed on a full-time basis earlier this month but Ross explained why he preferred to remain where he was during the least restful vacation he’s ever had.
“It probably helped me that I was out of the country; that wasn’t a bad thing,” he said. “As it turned out, I had three quiet days but I suppose that’s part of the job and I’m not looking for sympathy. There’s always something that needs a response and, the way communications are these days, you’re always available.
“That (Dundee’s interest) was something I hadn’t envisaged happening because I was quite settled where I was.
“Probably the best way to sum it up was that I left the country 100% content to be with St Mirren and I returned home feeling the same way.”
Ross, who kept the Buddies in the Championship after joining from Alloa in October when they were seven points adrift at the bottom, admits that the possibility of moving straight into the Premiership with the Dundee was tempting.
“It’s human nature,” he said. “But, deep down, the biggest thing for me is that I really enjoy working for St Mirren. The facilities are great and that’s important for managers – I walk into our training ground each morning and enjoy being there.
“Ultimately, I felt comfortable about continuing doing the same job. I said, when I took the job in October, that I felt I could take Saints into the Premiership and everyone laughed, given that we were bottom of the table.
“We stayed up but I don’t feel that I’ve done a good job there yet and I won’t feel that way until I can get them into the top division.”
The Saints boss is determined to prove he has what it takes at the highest level but he’s prepared to bide his time.
He said: “Dundee was a big thing to consider and I knew that, potentially, I was taking a gamble because things can change really quickly in football – we could have a really bad start to next season and my stock would fall again.
“But you also need to have faith in yourself and what you do and that that opportunity will come again and I hope that doesn’t come across as me being arrogant but that’s how I reached my decision in the end.
“I suppose a lot of it is about gut feeling as well – that’s maybe old fashioned but you’ve got to feel it. Football’s very much a game that’s so scientific these days but you’ve still got to trust your gut and your instinct and think whether this is the right thing.
“Since I’ve come back from holiday there’s not one bit of me that’s thought ‘what if?’ I’m comfortable where I am.”
