SUNDERLAND manager Jack Ross expects to have transfer progress to report in the not-too-distant future despite having to bide his time when he makes his first signing.

The Black Cats had shown an interest in Ross County full-back Jason Naismith, although owner Stewart Donald has claimed they had not been seriously in for his signature.

Naismith, despite interest from elsewhere including Aberdeen, has signed a three-year deal at Peterborough United, leading to the reports that Ross has missed out on one of his main targets.

The reality is that Sunderland have a long list of targets Donald is working to along with the new head of recruitment Tony Coton, in the hope progress will be made sooner rather than later.

Donald is confident deals will be done and has stated he believes Sunderland can “compete with the teams they need to for signatures.”

Ross hopes to have a number of new players on board before the squad returns for pre-season training on June 27. He will then take the squad to Portugal for a training camp, where they will play a non-competitive training game that week.

Ross, still keen on Celtic's Lewis Morgan among others, said: “The trip to Portugal was in place before I took the job, but I’m happy it was because it’s an opportunity to spend time with the players and staff.

“It’s 24/7 and that’s beneficial on the pitch as well as off it, so it can only benefit us and I’m pleased it’s there.

“It’s part of the challenge (going away with a group that might change before the start of the season). I came in with my eyes wide-open to the challenges I would face, but certainly in this initial period, it’s a set of fairly unusual circumstances as normally any manager would tell you they would like to have as much in place as they can.

“Whatever we go with, and whatever we have at that stage, we will make the most of and we’ll get the most we can out of the trip, so they’ll be elements that stand us in good stead.”

Sunderland’s supporters have been advised the training venue in Portugal, booked several months ago, does not have public access.

A club statement read: “The club apologises to those fans who had expressed an interest in travelling to Portugal, but unfortunately spectators cannot be accommodated on this occasion. We hope to rectify this for supporters in future seasons.”

There will be a number of other fixtures – including against Hartlepool and Darlington – that will allow fans to see Ross’ new-look team and the remaining games in the pre-season schedule are in the process of being finalised.

There will also be a game at the Stadium of Light before the start of the new campaign and that will be announced in the coming days.

Sunderland’s changes behind the scenes have continued, meanwhile, by allowing fitness coach Adrian Lamb and physio Dave Binningsley to leave.

The latest members of the backroom staff to go follow last week’s news that Robbie Stockdale, first team coach, and Adrian Tucker, goalkeeper coach, have gone.