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0 Have your say James Fowler’s last game in management saw him, ironically, come up against Jack Ross in the opposite dug-out. It finished Queen of the South 2, Alloa Athletic 2. Fowler had impressed in charge of the Dumfries side, thrown into the job when Jim McIntyre left for Ross County. Like so many, however, Fowler had been given an early taste of the brutal nature that comes with management and from then he had his eye on returning as a coach or assitant.Having heard good things about Ross’s coaching, he went to watch his sessions at Alloa and the pair obviously made an impression on each other. Ross had Fowler in mind when he moved to St Mirren and from there their careers have taken off.Fowler had always intended to follow Ross when he made his next step and the partnership has made a solid start on Wearside.They have been methodical and measured in the face of a daunting in-tray, beginning to instil a new playing philosophy despite a dramatic … [Read more...] about Meet the man helping Jack Ross rebuild Sunderland as he opens up on his role and partnership

0 Have your say Denver Hume is hoping to stay in Jack Ross’s first team plans after making his first start of the season against Sheffield Wednesday. Hume impressed in an unfamiliar right-back role and with Donald Love out injured, he is currently providing important cover for Ross.A loan move before the end of the month is not out of the question, particularly if Bryan Oviedo stays, but for now Hume is relishing the opportunities.“I was kind of unsure [about the future], I’ve kind of just taken it week by week,” Hume said.“I’ve been involved since the first week of pre-season so since then I’ve just got my head down, kept working hard, and hopefully I can stay and play more games. If not, we’ll have to see.“Quite a lot of us were involved throughout pre-season and it showed the manager was taking a look at us. He just said to us we were a young squad but if we took our opportunities we’d stay in it. I … [Read more...] about Sunderland youngster on first team breakthrough and what comes next under Jack Ross

Look at them in the light of day and they seem no different. But come match day at Yarrow Stadium, its two main stands will be empty. There's no hiding the fact that the closure of the east and west stands have caused months of hardships, meaning long, difficult conversations for Taranaki Rugby. They may have the Ranfurly Shield, but Taranaki Rugby CEO Jeremy Parkinson realises its impact can only do so much given their current limitations. "For most provinces when they have the Ranfurly Shield that's the icing on the cake and you really push your revenue levels," Parkinson told Newshub. "This year, with the situation, we're tracking well behind. "It's frustrating, disruptive, difficult - plenty of words for it, but you've just got to be solutions oriented." But that takes nothing away from the significance of entering the season as Shield holders. Captain Angus Ta'avao is confident the locals will still come in their droves. "Our fans are awesome," said Ta'avao. "They're determined to … [Read more...] about Rugby: Taranaki left frustrated by stadium woes