St Mirren boss Jack Ross kept his cards close to his chest when questioned about the Town management vacancy at his press conference having been named the Ladbrokes Championship Manager of the Year yesterday.
The 41-year-old spoke to Marcus Evans last week, the Buddies having given the Blues permission to hold talks, and is set to meet with the Town owner for a second time later this week.
"I have always tried to be frank and honest but that [the Town job] is something I am not willing or able to comment on at the moment,” Ross, who also spoke to Sky Sports News, at yesterday’s media get-together, is quoted by the Daily Record as having said when asked about the situation.
"There is always a danger in football that people take it as a sign of disloyalty or that you are not doing your job properly.
"Those who know me will know I have spent every day at Ralston [the St Mirren training ground] since the season finished trying to make sure we are in as good a place as we can be for next season. As things stand that is where I will be next season.
"The club is waiting to have communication with them [Town]. I have always been relaxed about it simply because I enjoy this job so much.
"I am excited about the fact we have a Premiership season to look forward to. That excites me as a manager because it gives me that freshness.
"The pathway to England is one players and managers want to take because of the huge resources available down there — but I am a big advocate of the game up here.
"The recent attention and profile the Scottish game has received through the likes of Steven Gerrard’s appointment at Rangers as well as the Hibs v Rangers game at the weekend [which ended 5-5] highlights the fact there are good things happening up here.
"There are good players and managers operating in Scotland and we should embrace that more.
"I’ve never had preconceived ideas about how I would want my career to go other than the fact I would like to be Scotland manager one day.
"That’s romantic for me. I always wanted to play for Scotland when I was a young boy. Now you hear young boys saying they want to play in the English Premier League.
"For me, the ultimate as a manager would be to manage my country. But beyond that it has only ever been about doing the job I’m in to the best I can.”
Ross, who was also named PFA Scotland's Manager of the Year, is now the 11-8 odds-on favourite with Bet Victor to take over at Town having moved ahead of Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst, who remains at 2-1, the pair having previously been joint-favourites.
Scott Parker is at 12-1, Tim Sherwood 14-1, Shefki Kuqi 16-1, Simon Grayson 20-1 and Paul Cook, George Burley, John McGreal, Mark Warburton and Tony Mowbray all at 25-1.