Wednesday 12 October 2016 18:39, UK
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson has distanced himself from the vacant Aston Villa job.
The 35-year-old is being tracked by Villa as they look to replace Roberto Di Matteo after sacking the Italian on Monday following a poor start to the season.
Johnson is on the club's list along with caretaker boss Steve Clarke, Brentford manager Dean Smith, Huddersfield's David Wagner and Steve Bruce, who is available after leaving Hull in the summer.
Former Oldham boss Johnson joined the Robins on a three-and-a-half year deal from Barnsley in February and insisted he is happy at Ashton Gate.
"I always dreamed of being here and earning my stripes as a coach, so why would I want to leave when I'm so happy," he told the Bristol Post.
"I'm not going to comment on other things, I just wanted people to know how I feel. I'm fiercely ambitious, don't get me wrong, but my ambition is being channelled into Bristol City. This is my place.
"I have a really exciting group of players and I want to see where it can take us. Crowds are on the up at Ashton Gate, we have a fantastic revamped stadium and this is a club going places."
Johnson, a former Robins player, has guided Bristol City to fifth in the Sky Bet Championship, five points behind leaders Huddersfield, and they beat Villa 3-1 at home in August.
Di Matteo was dismissed with Villa 19th in the table having won just one of his opening 12 games in all competitions despite spending around £50m in the summer.
He was only appointed in June and Villa are looking for their sixth manager, including caretakers, since the start of last season.
There is no time frame in Villa's search and interviews are yet to start with the club having acknowledged the importance of the next appointment.
