Full name John James Ross Playing position Name Jack Ross Height 1.85 m Position Defender | Place of birth Falkirk, Scotland 1992–1993 Dundee Role Football player Education Heriot-Watt University | |
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Date of birth (1976-06-05) 5 June 1976 (age 39) Current team Alloa Athletic (manager) | ||
John James "Jack" Ross (born 5 June 1976) is a Scottish professional football player and coach, who is currently the manager of Alloa Athletic. Ross played as a defender and midfielder for Dundee, Forfar Athletic, Camelon Juniors, Clyde, Hartlepool United, Falkirk, St. Mirren, Hamilton Academical, Dunfermline Athletic and Dumbarton.
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Ross started as a coaching career at Dumbarton, as assistant manager for both Alan Adamson and later Ian Murray. He was also caretaker manager of Dumbarton in October – November 2012. He became the coach of the Heart of Midlothian under-20 team in July 2014. Ross was appointed Alloa Athletic manager in December 2015.
Playing career
Ross had spells as a youth player at Dundee and Forfar Athletic. He then moved to Camelon Juniors, where he featured in their 1996 Scottish Junior Cup run, before losing in the final. He joined Clyde in 1999, playing in many different positions before settling in the right midfield role. He was made captain of the team when Ian Spittal was the team coach.
Ross signed a pre-contractual agreement with Hartlepool United in April 2004. Ross suffered ankle ligament damage and spent a large part of his time on the sidelines. Hartlepool funded his rehabilitation and also allowed him to return home. However, Ross refused to return to Hartlepool, train or play for the club and asked Hartlepool's chairman Ken Hodcroft to tear up his contract claiming his was homesick. Hartlepool refused and asked for compensation and a refund of agent fees. Ross left without consent and later went on sick and claimed that he would not return to Hartlepool even if "they were in the Champions League". He also criticised Hartlepool manager Neale Cooper for feeling let down by his actions, stating that "maybe the manager thinks I have let him down but that's nothing compared with how I feel about him". On 31 July 2005, Hartlepool agreed to terminate his contract after finally receiving compensation, which included a refund of the fees paid to Ross's agent.
Ross transferred to his home town club, Falkirk, in 2005 and was a regular in the team. Falkirk manager John Hughes warned Ross when he stalled on signing a new contract.
On 30 April 2008, it was announced that Ross had signed a pre-contract agreement with St. Mirren and joined them at the end of the season on a two-year deal. Ross scored his first goal for St. Mirren against Dundee United at Tannadice Park on 24 January 2009.
Having been released by St Mirren at the end of the 2009–10 season, Ross joined Hamilton Academical on a one-year contract. His contract with Hamilton Academical was cancelled after only three games. A few weeks later Ross signed for Dunfermline until the end of the 2010–11 season. He sustained a knee injury in training which led to his eventual retirement from football without having played a game for the Pars.
International career
Ross won his solitary cap for Scotland at junior level in 1999. Ross was included in the Scotland B squad for the match against Northern Ireland B in May 2009. He came on at the start of the second half, replacing St. Mirren team mate Scott Cuthbert.
Coaching career
In 2011 Ross joined Dumbarton as an assistant manager to Alan Adamson. On October 2012 he became caretaker manager following Adamson's sacking. During this spell he led the Sons to their first Scottish First Division victory in 16 years, with a 1–0 win at Cowdenbeath. This ended when he became assistant manager to Adamson's successor Ian Murray the following November.
On 1 July 2014, Ross joined Hearts as a member of the coaching team. He left this position in October 2015. In December 2015, Ross was appointed manager of Scottish Championship club Alloa Athletic.
Managerial statistics
As of match played on 19 December 2015.Other activities
During his spell outside professional footballing and attended university in between, he achieved an MA Honours degree in Economics from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh in 1998.
Ross was the inaugural chairman of PFA Scotland players' union, heading a management committee consisting of players representing the views of those within the dressing room.
He wrote a blog for the BBC Sport website.