MARK WARBURTON, the Rangers manager, has dismissed speculation connecting him with the Everton job, joking that he will be being linked with posts at major Spanish clubs next. Warburton’s name has repeatedly cropped up whenever vacancies have arisen in England on the back of his previously successful stint with Brentford and an impressive maiden campaign with Rangers. With Roberto Martinez’s position at Everton thought to be increasingly under danger as a result of his side’s poor run of form, Warburton has emerged as a possible contender to replace him. But the Englishman, crowed PFA Scotland’s manager of the year on Sunday night, laughed off the suggestion, instead praising his players for their achievements.

“Who is it this time? I can't stop that. It will be Barcelona and Real Madrid next. The only time you get linked to big clubs is when the players are doing well. It's as simple as that. If you lose 12 on the spin you won't be linked with any jobs. Don't forget they won the league convincingly, they won the Petrofac [Training Cup] and beat Celtic in the [William Hill Scottish Cup] semi-final and have reached a domestic final. It's all credit to the players.”

Rangers played their final league match of the season against St Mirren on Sunday and now have almost three weeks to recuperate before facing Hibernian in the Scottish Cup final. Warburton has afforded his players four days’ rest before they return to training on Friday ahead of closed doors friendly against Tottenham Hotspur next week.

“It’s really important that the players use their time off wisely,” he told Rangers TV. “They’ve worked hard and earned this four days off. It’s a chance to rest, to recover, to take some time off with their family, go away for a few days and they need that after a long and hard season.

“Don’t forget that they are young players and that there are a number of players who have played in nearly every minute of every game like Lee Wallace, Wes Foderingham and James Tavernier and it’s a real testament to them.”