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MIKE Mulraney hopes Jack Ross is linked with every managerial job available – but remains at Alloa – after enhancing his growing reputation against Celtic this week.
The Wasps boss is thought to be one of the names in the frame to replace Alex Rae at former club St Mirren and Alloa’s impressive display in going down 2-0 at Parkhead, thanks to two goals in the last seven minutes in Wednesday’s Betfred Cup quarter-final, could strengthen his case.
The defeat was only the second Ross and his team have suffered in their last 18 matches, stretching back to the tail end of last season, and there could have been a different outcome had Craig Gordon seen red for his high challenge on Greig Spence in the first-half.
After the success of Paul Hartley and Barry Smith in earning moves to full-time football, Mulraney is thrilled at the job being done by Ross, who suffered the disappointment of relegation from the Championship following his appointment in December.
And Mulraney insists he wants to see his manager in contention for every job that comes up because it will mean that Ross is continuing to make progress in the dugout.
The Alloa chairman told Capital City Press: “This started last season. Jack didn’t get the results his hard work deserved when he first came to the club, but he made huge changes and great progress.
“Although the results never came, the promise was there last season. We went on a five-game unbeaten run, which included beating Hibs and drawing with Rangers. This season he’s continued it.
“Seeing Jack linked with another job is a problem I’ve faced for six years now at Alloa with whoever’s been manager, and I hope it continues.
“I hope that Jack is linked with every single job that comes up and that he stays the Alloa manager.
“As a chairman, if he’s linked with every single job that comes up then that means he’s doing well, so long may it continue.
CONFIDENT
“I’m very confident Jack will go on to be a huge success as a manager and I felt that the day I appointed him. I know he came slightly from left-field but he was the only person I interviewed because I was so confident he was the right man.”
Mulraney has admitted he left Parkhead bursting with pride at the way Alloa stifled Celtic for almost the entire match and came within seven minutes of a famous result.
However, after becoming the first Wasps team to reach the last-eight of the League Cup in 51 years, the Indodrill Stadium chief has confessed there was also a measure of regret.
He added: “There’s loads of Premiership teams who will go there this season and not do as well as us. It sounds strange to say but there’s a huge amount of pride – but a little bit of disappointment.
“We felt we really gave a good account of ourselves and it took a good goal to break us down.
“Celtic are a great team but after 80 minutes you’re hoping all your hard work pays off.
“So, it’s a strange situation where you’re leaving Celtic Park after a 2-0 defeat and you’re a wee bit disappointed!”
