Jack Ross would be prepared to sell Jack Baldwin to one of Sunderland's promotion rivals; If Jack Baldwin wants to move on in the transfer window, manager Jack Ross would not block a move to one of the Black Cats' promotion rivals.
Byline: Stuart Rayner
Jack Ross would not stop Jack Baldwin joining a potential promotion rival if the Sunderland centre-back moves on next week.
The Black Catsare looking to add a left-back and a central defender before the September 2 deadline, but if they get both there will have to be some rebalancing.
Quite apart from financial considerations and fair play rules,manager Rossdoes not want to be working with too large a squad, and even after Thursday's departure of Glenn Loovens he still has Jordan Willis, Alim Ozturk and Tom Flanagan. Conor McLaughlin is comfortable in a back three and midfielder George Dobson can operate as a centre-back.
Baldwin, yet to feature in a League One matchday squad this season, is the most likely to move on, and Ross will not block a move for fear of strengthening a rival.
"As a manger it would be incredibly selfish to look at it that way because you can't just accumulate players," Ross argued ahead of today's league visit of Wimbledon. "If we were to strengthen ourselves defensively and Jack found his opportunities limited, players should want to play football and it would be remiss of me (to keep him).
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"You also have to back your judgement a bit. You can't not select a player and feel as if somebody else should not have the right to select them.
"In any leadership job you have to make decisions, you can't just shy away from them."
Baldwin's prospects have been worsened by the partnership Alim Ozturk has formed with Jordan Willis.
"I've been pleased with them," Ross commented. "I think what Jordan brings is a good help to Alim. Jordan has qualities that we felt as if we needed in a central defender this year. That's why we were so keen to pursue him, and I think he's helped Alim in that regard.
"I'm a bit frustrated that we haven't kept a clean sheet because I think generally they've defended pretty well. That last part is just still to come, and if they do that, they'll get their rewards. I've been pleased with them, and in the games they've played together, they've done well.
"Reflecting on last season and looking at the teams that did well, we looked...
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