Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans has moved to end speculation linking him with the vacant managerial post at Hibernian, insisting his focus remains entirely on his current project at the League Two club.
Evans, 63, took charge at the Memorial Stadium last December and guided Rovers to safety in the fourth tier last season, a achievement that led to him signing a new contract in April keeping him at the club until 2028. Despite that long-term commitment, his name had been floated in connection with Hibernian following the Scottish Premiership club's decision to part ways with manager David Gray on 16 September after a run of six consecutive home defeats.
Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, Evans confirmed there had been no approach from the Edinburgh club and made clear where his priorities lie. "I'm humbled to be linked to a job like that because if you're a Scotsman you know how big a football club that is but I'm not going anywhere," he said. "I've come here to deliver on a project - it doesn't feel like that driving home this evening - but my commitment is to this football club."
The timing of the speculation coincided with a difficult spell for Rovers, who slipped to a second straight defeat at the weekend, beaten 3-0 away at Gillingham. That result has taken some shine off what had otherwise been a promising start to the campaign, with the club sitting sixth in League Two after winning four of their opening seven fixtures.
Evans, who has spent more than three decades in football management, has never taken charge of a club in his native Scotland despite a playing career north of the border with Clyde, Albion Rovers, Ayr United, Hamilton Academical and St Johnstone. That fact has fuelled interest whenever a prominent Scottish vacancy arises, but the veteran manager was adamant that only one specific job could ever tempt him away from England.
A boyhood and lifelong supporter of Celtic, Evans admitted that his allegiance to the Glasgow giants is the sole exception to his loyalty at Bristol Rovers. "I've often maintained there's only one club that will take me to Scotland and, if they ever did ring, I'm in the car," he said, before elaborating further on his stance. "A certain team in Glasgow, there's only one team I would leave this for and of course my country because everyone would manage their country. I don't think I'll get either of those jobs now but that's the only team I'd go north of the border for."
His comments effectively close the door on any suggestion that he could be tempted to Easter Road, leaving Hibernian to continue their search for a permanent successor to Gray following the poor run of home form that cost the previous manager his job.
For now, Evans' attention remains squarely on righting the ship at Bristol Rovers after back-to-back league defeats threatened to derail the early-season momentum built during the first two months of the campaign. With his contract running through to 2028, the manager appears settled on seeing through the rebuilding project he began less than a year ago, regardless of any external interest that his profile continues to attract from elsewhere in British football.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.