JACK ROSS has revealed he has met Sunderland’s prospective new owners even though he is working to ensure that none of the takeover talk affects the team’s preparations for League One duty.

The Black Cats boss, speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Accrington, is being kept up to speed with the American investors' attempts to finalise a deal with the club’s current owner Stewart Donald.

Ross is keen not to be distracted by what is going on in the boardroom at the Stadium of Light, believing he must stay focused on keeping his players mentally right in the battle to keep Sunderland in the promotion mix.

Nevertheless it is understood that John Phelan, Glenn Fuhrman and Robert Platek – along with Michael Dell, who will be a more silent director – expect to have things completed within the next week or so and they have been on Wearside.

“I have spoken to people that maybe involved with the club moving forward but I am reluctant to say too much about it because it is not my area and until anything is ratified I don’t want to say too much about it,” said Ross.

Given the fact there are billionaires among the group – including one of the world’s richest men in Dell – it is understandable there is a perception more money will be available for squad strengthening in January and beyond.

But Ross has learned to do what he can to concentrate on the playing side of things and not wonder about what the future may or may not hold.

He said: “Like everything, I am focused on the areas of the club I am responsible for, what we have done well, what we can do better at. It’s up the people who control the club, who might control the club, to make decisions about the best way to take the club forward.”

Ross added: “Stewart and I will never change our relationship because we have been good since day one. He keeps me up to date with what is going on. Naturally there are bits I won’t speak about publicly because I don’t think it is my place. I know where we are at, and potentially something could happen.

“There is a general consensus out there, full stop, that when you come under new ownership you become incredibly rich and you do things in a different way. I have not thought about that.  “Anything I would ask is about the structure of the club and are we best placed for sustainable growth if you like? And if we can continue to grow as a club? I don’t know about the rest, in terms of how it will be affected going forward.  “It has always been about putting my message across and whether we can achieve what we want, I suppose there is a short to medium term and a medium to long term way of looking at things. There will be different opinions about which is best.   “Like anything, until someone takes the keys of the house, or control of anything, they don’t know what they will do with it. It’s my responsibility to continue to do my job and we will see how things might change later.”

Many managers might find it hard to cope in such a situation, but Ross said: “It’s a fair question to ask and it would be easy for me to say I am not bothered. Experience tells me how to deal with situations.  “I had a summer that was pretty uncertain in terms of speculation, a lot of conversations about what could happen with regard the ownership of the club. That might have helped me now.  “I probably concerned myself too much with it in the summer but now I just think it’s not my area of the club so I am relaxed about it.”

Sunderland operated in the transfer market in the bargain basement over the summer, securing players as free agents predominantly.  And Ross has hinted Sunderland will not be handing debuts to two of their latest signings, Laurens de Bock and Joel Lynch, when they head to Accrington.

The two new faces signed before the deadline day at the start of the month have worked on their fitness over the international break but are still not ready for a first team call-up.

But Ross is ready to give them a run-out in Monday’s Under-23s game with Middlesbrough at Eppleton in preparation for them competing for a place in the League One team.  Ross said: “The only absentee is Duncan (Watmore) still. Charlie Wyke has a little issue, he is suspended anyway.  "All being well he will train at the weekend and be available after Saturday. Laurens and Joel are working towards full fitness and will play for 23s on Monday. That will get them closer.”

De Bock will be given the task of challenging young gun Denver Hume for the left-back slot and he has recovered from a knock to face Accrington.

Ross said: “We needed someone in that position to give us another option. I still want to progress Denver, I don’t want to recruit players similar age to Denver, block his pathway.  "But Laurens has a good pedigree, played at a good level overseas and he is excited to try to kickstart his career. He has been with us ten days and working towards full fitness.

“We can sometimes be over-protective with players sometimes.  "You have to be at your best to play every week. The biggest compliment is that Denver is a first team player, has been since I took the job. This season he has been fit and he has played. Any dips or injuries offers an opportunity to others. If he plays like he has this season then he has control of that jersey.”