Hibs manager latest as Easter Road legend distances himself from boss job amid social media speculation

Airdrie manager Ian Murray is flattered by links to former club Hibs, but insists the Diamonds are his only focus.

The Easter Road club wielded the axe on head coach Shaun Maloney just 120 days after appointing him as Jack Ross' replacement.

It's been a calamitous season in Leith, with a bottom six Premiership spot now confirmed.

Social media speculation has linked Murray - who spent six years in the capital and was named club captain before leaving for Rangers in 2005 - with taking over from Maloney.

His Airdrie side are on an oustanding League One unbeaten run, currently 18 games without defeat, taking the title race with Cove Rangers almost to the wire.

Promotion play-offs potentially loom unless Cove collapse and give up a five-point lead with two games to go, with the 41-year-old fully focused on his North Lanarkshire endeavours.

He told Football Scotland : “I’m very, very happy where I am. I’ve enjoyed tremendous backing from my own board and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Airdrie as a football club.

“I’ve been given time to build the football club and I’ve absolutely loved it.

“I love the group of players that I’ve got and my relationship with the board and chairman.

“I’m very cautious to make any predictions in football. People are very quick to say the one club that they’d want to manage.

“But I don't really have one. Football just takes you down a pathway that just happens and I’m fully focused on trying to get Airdrie promoted to the Championship.”

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport onTwitter via@LanLiveSport, like us onFacebookor find us onInstagramfor the latest sports news, pictures and video.