New Sunderland boss Jack Ross is undaunted by the prospect of succeeding where so many more famous names have failed by bringing the good times back to the Stadium of Light.

By Sunderland's standards Ross – named as the Black Cats' ninth manager in five years last week – is a low-key appointment compared with predecessors like Roy Keane, Paolo Di Canio, Dick Advocaat and Chris Coleman.

But the 41-year-old, who began his managerial career at Alloa before leading St Mirren to the Ladbrokes Championship title last term, says he is relishing being given the opportunity to lift the club back to where he believes it belongs.

Ross said: "The appeal of this club is big, and some of the managers who have been here have had a big profile as both players and managers.

"If I didn't think I could do it I wouldn't have taken the job on. I've never really lived in fear of a job. It's more about wanting to do the job to the best of my abilities and this gives me the platform to do that."

Ross was introduced to the Stadium of Light for the first time on Thursday, and he will now set about discussing plans for the new Sky Bet League One season ahead with ambitious new owner Stewart Donald.

The future of big names like Jack Rodwell and Lee Cattermole is set to be top of Ross' agenda but he insisted he is ready to listen to all sides and create a squad which mixes both big-game experience and youth.

Ross added: "I think the absolute position will become clear in the coming weeks but none of the jobs I've taken have been easy – there have always been challenges and this is another one for me to overcome.

"Bringing a squad of players together is the ultimate challenge for any manager and that is a big part of my job within the next two months.

"The challenge for me is to immerse myself in League One because that is where we are at the moment – there is no point having delusions of grandeur.

"So I have to learn as much as I can about it as quickly as possible. I'm excited rather than intimidated. I've always enjoyed the problem-solving side of management."

Problems do not come much bigger in football than the steady demise of the Black Cats, who are preparing to face the likes of Fleetwood and Accrington next season.

But there is a mood of cautious optimism following Donald's bullish takeover, which has effectively cleared the club of debts, and the new owner has made plain the prospect of a budget which will dwarf those of their League One rivals.

Ross has also revealed he has been heavily involved in St Mirren’s bid to find his successor.

During his unveiling at the Stadium of Light, Ross spoke of the wrench he felt in leaving behind the Buddies after 20 successful months at the helm.

However, with former Hearts colleague Robbie Neilson amongst those linked with the vacancy in Paisley, Ross admits he has been in regular dialogue with his old club as they continue their search for a new boss.

He said: “St Mirren have asked my opinion over the course of the last week and then, as recently, as Wednesday night.

“It won’t be my opinion and my thoughts on who should get that job that will be what the club decides to do.

“But I think they’re keen to try to continue the progression they’ve made in recent times.

“And what I would say is that it is a job that has become a lot more attractive than it was 20 months ago when I was probably the only person daft enough to take it!”

Ross insists he will not pack his Sunderland team with Scots but has hinted he will make signing raids north of the border to revamp the squad he has inherited.

Ross has been linked with an interest in Hibs midfielder John McGinn and is said to be readying a £1m move for St Mirren youngster Kyle Magennis.

“The Scottish market is something that I’m keen to explore but I’m also conscious that I wouldn’t want to make that the foundations on which I built a squad," he said.

“That’s something you have to be careful of, coming from another country – filling your squad with players who don’t understand what it takes to win the league we now find ourselves in.

“I could probably say that about the homegrown players who are at Sunderland just now, [it’s about] finding the right mix that can win this league.

“But there are good players up in Scotland. I think the game up there is a lot better than people sometimes believe it is and there are undoubtedly players up there who could make that transition.

“And if that interest becomes more concrete, it’s not a bad sell I’ve got, because it’s a really big club and a really good club, and one where a player could hopefully come and progress through the levels as well.”