Manager dismisses link with Everton

MARK Warburton, the Rangers manager, has dismissed speculation connecting him with the Everton job, joking that he will be linked with posts at major Spanish clubs next. Warburton’s name has repeatedly cropped up whenever vacancies have arisen in England on the back of his previously successful stint with Brentford and an impressive maiden campaign with Rangers. With Roberto Martinez’s position at Everton thought to be increasingly under danger as a result of his side’s poor run of form, Warburton has emerged as a possible contender to replace him. But the Englishman, crowed PFA Scotland’s Manager of the Year on Sunday night, laughed off the suggestion, instead praising his players for their achievements.

“Who is it this time? I can’t stop that. It will be Barcelona and Real Madrid next. The only time you get linked to big clubs is when the players are doing well If you lose 12 on the spin you won’t be linked with any jobs. Don’t forget they won the league convincingly, they won the Petrofac [Training Cup] and beat Celtic in the [William Hill Scottish Cup] semi final and have reached a domestic final. It’s all credit to the players.”

Rangers now have almost three weeks to recuperate before facing Hibernian in the Scottish Cup final.

“It’s really important that the players use their time off wisely,” he said.