Pascal Jansen has responded to speculation linking him with the vacant Rangers job.
The AZ Alkmaar manager has been heavily touted with the role following Michael Beale's sacking on Sunday night.
Alongside Kevin Muscat and Frank Lampard, the Dutchman appears to be leading the way in terms of the various candidates suggested for the position.
However, this evening, the 50-year-old seems to have moved to distance himself from the job. Speaking ahead of his side's Europa Conference League game against Legia Warsaw tomorrow night, Jansen was asked about the links.
He said: "I don't know if there has been contact with AZ, but there has been no contact with me.
"I also received it and received some messages from England, but I don't know where it came from. It's completely out of the question."
James Bisgrove has missed out on Rangers' trip to Cyprus this midweek as he aims to front the recruitment drive so that the club are in a position to appoint a permanent successor to Beale sooner rather than later.
Steven Davis is in interim charge of first-team matters, supported by Alex Rae, Stevie Smith, Brian Gilmour and Colin Stewart.
Their first game comes against Aris Limassol tomorrow evening on matchday two of the Europa League group stage. A trip to face St Mirren then follows on Sunday.
Michael O'Neill knows Davis well having spent the best part of the last decade working with the midfielder in the Northern Ireland setup. And he's backing the 38-year-old to handle the pressures of being a manager.
"I think it shows you the nature of football at this moment in time," he explained. "It’s great for Steven and shows the high regard he is held in at the club. They have turned to him in this situation after making the decision on their manager Michael Beale and I have messaged him to wish him all the best.
“I told him if he needed any help or guidance not to be afraid to pick up the phone, but he will have his own thoughts and hasn’t had much time with the players, particularly with the travel involved going to Cyprus.
“It’s never an easy situation and playing in Europe away from home adds to it all. He has huge experience as a player and he has a lot of common sense. He is emotionally well balanced which is important and that will help him in this situation."
