Brentford manager Thomas Frank dismissed as "disrespectful" speculation linking him with taking over at Manchester United, and hinted at sticking around at the Gtech Stadium long enough to win silverware.
Uncertainty has arisen over the future of United boss Erik ten Hag since new minority investor Jim Ratcliffe took charge of football operations at Old Trafford.
But Frank has distanced himself from any suggestion he could be in the frame to step in and steer the Ineos rebuild.
"A lot of rumours and links," he said. "I've said it before in other situations, I think it’s disrespectful to Erik ten Hag. He is doing everything he can to do well for Manchester United."
Brentford have enjoyed unprecedented success since the Dane was appointed head coach following the departure of Dean Smith in 2018, guiding them into the Premier league for the first time and securing two comfortable mid-table finishes.
It is the second time this season his name has been linked with a major top-flight club with Liverpool also reported to be considering him when Jurgen Klopp steps down in the summer.
But the 50-year-old said he is as likely to stay in west London and pursue the club’s first major trophy as to seek a challenge elsewhere.
"When I took the head coach job, I don’t think I expected to be here five years later," said Frank. "Not because I didn’t want to. It’s just impossible to predict where you are. Where I am right now, I’m very happy. It’s a fantastic club.
"It’s very difficult to predict. I’ve got ambitions. I’d like to see what life will potentially give me, what opportunities. But that opportunity could also be staying at Brentford for a long time, win a trophy here.
"It’s natural, a lot of people talking about what is the next aim. For me, instead of dreaming, it’s about getting your head down, work hard, then let’s see."
Brentford face title-chasing Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium today, with last season’s top scorer Ivan Toney coming up against a side with whom he has been heavily linked.
Frank has previously hinted the 27-year-old, who scored 20 league goals last season but has less than 18 months left on his Brentford contract, could be sold in the summer, whilst Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has stated he is in the market for a striker.
"Ivan is a Brentford player," said Frank. "If he is here next season, I’ll be very happy. I think he is a fantastic striker. I understand all the talk about him and all the rumours, because how many strikers have proved they can scored more than 20 goals in the Premier League?
"He is in the peak of his career. We’ve seen so many players that are only getting better, and especially strikers. I think the next four or five years he will be on an absolute top level.
"If any club in the world are missing a top-level striker, I would understand why they were interested in him."
Meanwhile, Ten Hag expects Tyrell Malacia to end up missing the entire season through injury as the Manchester United manager's left-back frustrations continue.
The Red Devils have been beset by problems during a bumpy second term for Ten Hag, who is fighting for his job over the coming weeks and months.
United have had to deal with key absentees and been left light in certain areas, most problematically left-back as Luke Shaw’s issues have compounded the season-long absence of Malacia.
Ten Hag said just under a month ago that he soon hoped to have the Netherlands international back from a knee complaint, having dealt with some setbacks during rehab.
But the United boss will have to keep muddling through at left-back for the foreseeable future after he revealed Malacia’s return is unlikely to come this season.
"We talk about one of my biggest frustrations is there," Ten Hag said.
"You can accept in a position that a player is not available, but when two players are not available over the course of the season that is very frustrating.
"Because that is also very difficult to catch up as a team, but we dealt with it in the best way, but of course it is a disadvantage."
Asked how far away Malacia is from returning, the United boss said: "I think it’s going to be difficult for this season to be available.
"He will fight, he’s back on the pitch, but not in the team and the process had some setbacks and is still going really slowly forward, and the season is going to an end."
That blow puts United’s decision to allow Sergio Reguilon to return to Tottenham midway through a season-long loan in the spotlight.
Signed in September to provide back-up with Malacia lied low, the Spain international was sent back to Spurs in January and has since made a temporary switch to Brentford.
Asked if it was a mistake letting Reguilon go back, frustrated Ten Hag said: "I think it’s a good question because in December I had the talks internally with, of course, medical and performance (staff).
"They assured me they (injured defenders) will be fit in January, they will be both fit in January, so you have two left full-backs.
"Then when you have two left full-backs and you have a third one, that means I always have to disappoint one full-back."
Malacia was undergoing rehab at that point and Shaw was recovering from an injury issue that kept him out for five weeks, returning in late January against Newport in the FA Cup.
That was one of five appearances the England international managed before sustaining a muscle injury that is expected to rule him out until mid-May.
"I think it’s the same," Ten Hag said of Shaw. "Maybe for the last games of the season, but we don’t expect him back this or next month."
The duo are among a number of injuries at a key time for United, with Everton arriving in the Premier League today lunchtime before hosting Liverpool in next weekend’s FA Cup quarter-final.
Those matches could also go a long way to deciding the future of Ten Hag, who he believes Ratcliffe’s Ineos understands the issues he has had to contend with this season.
"They are aware of it," the Dutchman said. "We talk a lot with each other, talk a lot about processes and the way we want to go for the future."
Pushed on whether they appreciate the difficulties and are understanding, Ten Hag added: "That is what they’re telling me but I’m independent, I’m here to win.
"I’m in a process and we keep going in this process. We know which direction we want to go.
"We have now big setbacks, we’ve had big setbacks but we keep going and have a strong mentality. We keep fighting and keep pushing the team in the right direction."
