Wayne Rooney appeared to distance himself from the speculation currently linking the Derby manager with the now vacant role at the helm of Premier League side Burnley.
The Clarets shocked everyone with their decision to dismiss Sean Dyche from his post after just under a decade in charge. Dyche oversaw one of the most successful periods in the club's history, securing promotion to the Premier League twice as well as two top-half finishes in the top flight alongside a Europa League run.
Attention has swiftly turned to who will be identified as his successor, with many linking Rooney to the role given the way he has operated under testing circumstances while in charge of Derby. The Rams have been deducted a total of 21 points since the start of the season due to financial troubles at boardroom level.
Despite this, Rooney has ensured Derby could still maintain their Championship status with four games left to play. Their nearest rivals above come in the form of Reading, who boast a nine-point advantage over the Rams.
Pressed for comment on whether the vacancy at Turf Moor could turn his head, Rooney instead shifted the focus on how Derby are in need of new ownership and claimed the club are heading in a positive direction. “Of course, I’ve been asking for this for a long time. We are on the right path, we’ve had positive news this week.
"Again the fans were incredible for us tonight, as they have done all season -stuck behind us and the players were brave on the ball. But on top of that you need character in tough moments and we showed that."
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Rooney was asked whether he would remain at Pride Park regardless of the division his side were in if the club could complete a takeover sharpish. The former England international made little secret of his desire to stay put.
"Yeah, listen. I said this before the game, it has to be done and for the future of this club. We’ve been close before and it hasn’t got over the line.
"So even though it’s positive, until it’s done we’re not getting ahead of ourselves. We need to complete it and I’ve said all along that I want to build the club. I want to get us back to where I think we belong."
