Close to joining new club after St Mirren exit
When one door closes another one opens.
This thought can certainly be applied to my football career this summer as I look forward to a change of club and another new challenge.
then the door that is closing is obviously black and white, with the colours on the one about to spring open not being something I can disclose at the moment.
The managers I have spoken to over the close season have been highly professional and courteous in their communication; and therefore it is only fair that I conduct myself in an identical manner.
However, I am hopeful that within the next two weeks I will have finalised a move, and be looking forward to working with new team-mates and a new manager.
Looking back over my two seasons in Paisley, there are several highlights with historic victories over both halves of the Old Firm andbeing my favourites.
I will also always be grateful that my time with the club allowed me to play in a "B" international for my country and that I was fortunate enough to captain such an established club on several occasions.
I would like to thank St Mirren fans for their terrific support both at games and when I met them, and wish them and all the players well for the new season.
It has been an unusual close season for me in respect of the above and also in the sense that I have never stopped training throughout the summer.
This is, of course, a consequence of the ankle injury that forced me to miss the last month of the season, with my cue to step up my rehabilitation coinciding with the conclusion of the final game.
Despite the somewhat tedious exercises that I had to complete to strengthen my ankle, I have enjoyed working back to full fitness.
Much of my early running was done when I was on holiday abroad, where the benefits were felt from working in high temperatures.
Having now returned to full fitness, my attention switches to being in the best possible condition for the start of pre-season training.
In that respect I am using , a fantastic facility used by many amateur and semi-professional sportsmen and women as well as elite athletes and the general public.
I am grateful to Dr John MacLean, Jim Fallon and the rest of the staff for allowing me to utilise the excellent gym and hydrotherapy pool.
With my base fitness work completed and endurance runs completed I am beginning to concentrate more on interval work, which is certainly more game-related.
Despite some holding the opinion that it is being offered as an excuse for poor performances I believe that a change in the make of a ball can make a huge difference.
The most recent and relevant experience I can draw on is that we played with a different ball in the League Cup semi final and final than we had done throughout the rest of the season.
Consequently, players only had a few days training with a new ball ahead of arguably their biggest games of the campaign.
Furthermore, the change in ball is difficult to adjust to and probably why some players are taking time to adapt.
It's perhaps another reason why we are now seeing more goals as the players play more games and complete more training sessions.
On the subject of World Cup goals, two of the scorers on Saturday and were in the Ajax side I played against when at Falkirk.
The Danish winger was incredibly quick, and I was delighted he spent more time on the right wing than he did on the left!
Sneijder was simply a magnificent footballer and after the game (which I must point out we won 2-1!) most of the talk in the dressing room was of his touch, vision and so on.
However, one of the match reports in the paper the following day gave him a five out of 10 for his performance.
This always cheers me up when a similar rating comes my way because, if it's good enough for Wesley Sneijder, then it's good enough for me!
I was released as a teenager from the Scottish Premier League, had the hardening experiences of junior and part-time football and came back to the top flight with four years at university thrown in! I'm Jack Ross, a defender with Dunfermline and I aim to give you an insight into the life and mind of a professional footballer.
Comment number 1.
At 21st Jun 2010, Steve wrote:Jack,
Many thanks for your service to the great St Mirren. I hope your career takes off well at your next club.
In a previous blog I mentioned that i believed you would make a good manager. Who knows maybe you could return to the famous Paisley Buddies.
What an interesting year it will be at St Mirren with new management and even hopefully new owners.
Thanks for the memories but I'm sure you'll be alright Jack...
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Comment number 2.
At 22nd Jun 2010, BaldyHibby wrote:Pleased to hear you have got another club lined up. I thought you would be ideal for Hibs but have gained the impression, through you're media work, that you and Yogi have had problems in the past ?
Talking of which I hope that you're new club allow you to continue with Sportsound. I have found you're insightful and cogent contributions very helpul in getting to the root of the question at hand.
Good luck to you.
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Comment number 3.
At 23rd Jun 2010, RobbieJB wrote:You will be a major loss to Saints Jack - I am genuinely sorry to see you go. You were reliable, professional and a rare bit of quality in out team.
Wish you all the best Jack and I am sure that our loss will be someone elses gain.
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd Jun 2010, Virtual Image wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 5.
At 23rd Jun 2010, Virtual Image wrote:Jack, you are a great ambasador for the sport as well as a sportsman. I remember meeting you at the end of last season after the presentations in Shuttle Street, my son had just been released from his club, your words were "its only one mans opinion, stay focused go forward" and here you are demonstrating that to great affect. Thanks for all your good service at the buddies. p.s. my son wants to keep fit for his pre season trial training with Thistle u17's, you up for a training partner. His school has great facilities and he has loads free periods now he is in 6th year? Hope you reply?
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd Jun 2010, EasternBuddie wrote:You will be missed Jack. It's good that you have someone lined up and wouldnt mind seeing you back at Greenhill Road some day. Hope you can keep the blog going.
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Comment number 7.
At 23rd Jun 2010, Ed Paisley wrote:Jack
Great to have your blog back and hope that you get a great deal wherever you decide to go. In your short spell at Saints you certainly made your mark particularly that first season when all those Player of The year awards were well deserved. You became a firm favourite with the fans and were a great ambassador for the Club. My son was over the moon when you visited his school on 2 occasions and he raved about how great you were with everyone. We will all remember your sprints down that right flank and great crosses into the box particularly that great game last season at Falkirk. Hope that when your career is over you'll look back with fondness at your time with us - we'll certainly remember you the same. All the best big man. Hope we'll still hear and see you on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
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Comment number 8.
At 25th Jun 2010, Jack Ross - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Sport wrote:Thank you as always for all the comments.
Re comment 2, Yogi and I had the odd disagreement but always professional ones and not any more than other players had. I had a great time at Falkirk under him and Brian Rice, they made me club captain and give or take the odd occasion always played me. I am sure that they will continue to build on last season's achievements and that your team will have a good campaign!
Comment 5, thank you for the kind offer of a training partner but I would not want to slow your son down! I am delighted he is still playing football and wish him the very best of luck for his upcoming trial and with his studies.
Comment 7, I have always enjoyed visiting schools and clubs as the enthusiasm for football from the children is great. I am glad your son was pleased with the visit-I was back in Paisley last night for a library visit for kids involved in the SPL Reading Stars Project and pre warned the young St Mirren fans present not to give me too much abuse if I return to the stadium next season!
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Comment number 9.
At 26th Jun 2010, el diablo wrote:jack wish you all the best. always professional, always committed you have played and performed by example.
would have thought you would have been an absolute cert for a six month/show fitness deal at greenhill road. but then again if others are prepared to show faith with a better deal then its a no-brainer.
wish you success for the future.
don't come crossing in screamers down our way though :-)
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Comment number 10.
At 26th Jun 2010, David Morrison wrote:Sorry to see you let go Jack, we could really do with you this season. I won't forget how impressive your debut season was at the club, especially the game against Falkirk in the game that kept us up. The game against Hearts in the semi final this year was another cracker!
Thank's for the signed programme and shirt! All the best with your new club. I'd imagine it's an SPL club - so don't try too hard when you're back in Paisley!
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Comment number 11.
At 26th Jun 2010, smfcBELIEVE wrote:Wish you the best of luck Jacko wherever you'll be playing next season, just don't play too well if you're playing against us! Wouldn't mind seeing you back at Greenhill Rd in some shape or form in the future.
Your a big loss in my opinion and I'm extremely sad to see you go. Your a credit to yourself and should be extremely pleased with what you've achieved. You were always professional, reliable, and committed yourself a hundred percent to the task in hand. Never forget that game at Falkirk you were simply outstanding, not forgetting the cup semi too!
I hope you won't be getting any abuse when you come back to Greenhill Rd and I certainly won't be giving you any! Hope you look back at your time with us fondly as you'll always be remembered well.
Wish you the best for the future big man.
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