Rodgers: I’m ready for top four job

BRENDAN RODGERS says he would not be too young to manage a top four Premier League club.

Swansea boss Rodgers has been heavily linked with Tottenham as a replacement for Harry Redknapp should he take the England job.

But while Rodgers is adamant his only focus is at the Liberty Stadium, the 39-year-old, who takes his side to White Hart Lane tomorrow, says his youthful age would not be an issue. “Speculation and gossip is part of British football, I can’t control that. My only worry is to move Swansea forward. It will probably be someone else tomorrow,” he said.

“But I’ve always been open and honest that one day in my career I’d love to be in a position to manage at the top. I had four-and-a-half years at Chelsea where I got a real feel of the challenge at the level. I’ve worked and managed – in a different way from a manager – top international players and captains like Michael Ballack, John Terry, Frank Lampard.

“I can understand where the link can be because I have been there and have comfort that I earned their respect as a human being and a coach. So I don’t think it would be too soon to go to that level.

“But the pressures are totally different. It might be too soon in my personal life. It has been a big year for my family, losing my father and other things.”

Rodgers, who signed a threeand-a-half-year deal last month, has worked wonders at Swansea in a 21-month tenure. But he claims the latest rumours will not distract his players on the field.

He added: “The players and I both know the dance. We are comfortable with each other. They see me not being affected by the speculation and they gain confidence by it.”