SUNDERLAND are hoping to confirm Jack Ross as their new manager within the next 24 hours after agreeing terms with the St Mirren boss.

Having previously suggested they would resist Sunderland's attempts to prise Ross from the Paisley Stadium, St Mirren have issued a statement confirming they have given the Black Cats permission to speak to the 41-year-old.

The St Mirren statement said: "St Mirren Football Club can confirm we received an approach from Sunderland AFC this afternoon for permission to speak to our manager Jack Ross.

"After agreeing to our terms we have reluctantly given them permission to speak to Jack about their vacant managers position."

Ross has agreed to leave his current employers, who recently won promotion to the Scottish Premier League, in order to move to the Stadium of Light.

The 41-year-old, who is currently on holiday in Greece, is set to sign a two-year deal on Wearside, with an option for his contract to be extended by a further 12 months.

Sunderland will pay around £50,000 in compensation to St Mirren, and are set to pay Ross more than four times what he was earning in Scotland despite their recent relegation to League One.

Ross has also held discussions with Ipswich Town about the managerial vacancy at Portman Road, but is understood to feel more excited about the possibility of rebuilding Sunderland.

Donald has pledged to offer a budget "bigger than any other club in League One", and Ross has opted to move to Wearside rather than uproot to Suffolk.

Speaking on talkSPORT earlier today, Donald said: "On the manager front, we have agreed literally this morning, so we are just drawing up contracts with the man we want. I am expecting there to be news on that very soon.

"We've agreed terms and literally the contracts are with the lawyers. The man in question is absolutely thrilled, which is what we want, and I'm absolutely delighted that he's coming, so that's exciting for us."

Ross, who spent a season with Hartlepool United during his playing career, began life as a manager with Alloa Athletic.

He staved off the threat of relegation from the Championship during his first season with St Mirren, and guided the Buddies back to the Scottish Premier League last term.