Steve Evans' total focus on Leeds amid speculation over Celtic job

Leeds head coach Steve Evans admits he is flattered to be linked with the vacant managerial position at Celtic, but insists he remains totally focused on his job at Elland Road.

Celtic boss Ronny Deila announced on Wednesday he would be leaving at the end of the season after almost two years in the job.

David Moyes, Neil Lennon and Roy Keane were immediately installed as front-runners for the post by bookmakers but backing for Glasgow-born Evans was noted throughout the day.

Speaking at his news briefing ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet Championship trip to Hull, Evans, a lifelong Celtic fan, was asked if replacing Deila in the Parkhead hot seat was something he considered.

"I think it is flattering for any manager or head coach to be linked with any job," said the former Crawley and Rotherham boss.

"But you can't let it take any focus away from the job in hand. Our only focus is Hull City on Saturday and when we are finished with Hull, it will be Charlton.

"I've been a Celtic fan since I was two seconds old. I'll always be a Celtic fan. Celtic is an iconic football club but Leeds United is an iconic football club, so my real focus and only focus is representing this famous club.

"If I was offered a contract here at Leeds in the summer and Celtic wanted me, I would say no to Celtic. I've made no secret of the fact I want to be head coach at Leeds next season.

"The only job that appeals to me at the minute is being head coach of Leeds United and I won't get involved in any speculation about what may or may not be.

"I have had a remit here from the start of the season to make sure this club is not in a relegation fight with three or four games to go and with three games to go we have a real opportunity of being comfortably in the top 10.

"But there is a lot of hard work to be done before then. We have to deal with Hull City, Charlton and Preston and that is the only focus."

Former Everton manager Moyes, who labelled Celtic as one of the biggest clubs in the world, heads bookmakers' lists ahead of ex-Hoops boss Lennon, who has already said he would be keen to return to the post, and Keane, who is looking for a return to club management.