Soccer:Birmingham boss Chris Hughton has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant managerial post at Wolves. The former Republic of Ireland coach had been mentioned as an outsider for the role in the wake of Mick McCarthy's sacking on Monday after five and a half years in charge at Molineux.
Hughton has done a stirring job since taking over at St Andrews, with the Blues unbeaten at home in the Championship this season as they push for promotion back to the Premier League. As far as Hughton is concerned though, he believes he has a job to finish with Birmingham, rather than any thoughts of taking on a new one at Wolves.
Asked about the speculation linking him with Wolves, Hughton said: “Anything like that is always very flattering. On the television I saw three names mentioned, so I presume that’s where it’s going and I just hope they pick the right person.
“I have a very challenging job to do here and I’ve got a group of lads who are desperate to do well this season and I’m desperate to guide them through.”
Pressed on whether he was ruling himself out, Hughton added: “I’m desperate to guide this group of players out to the end, yes.”
It is understood, meanwhile, Wolves are to begin interviewing prospective candidates today, with Alan Curbishley, Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock the three key names in the frame.
Despite being out of work for nearly three-and-a-half years, Curbishley faces an "imminent" interview with Wolves owner Steve Morgan, according to his agent Phil Smith.
"They (Wolves) have said themselves they have invited him to see them. That is what he will do and then we'll see because I believe there is Alan, Steve Bruce, Neil Warnock and whoever else in the frame. I'm not going to go into when it (the interview) is going to happen, other than to say it's imminent."
Despite not being at the sharp end of the managerial game since resigning from the Hammers in September 2008 - instead working as a television pundit - Smith does not believe that will prove any obstacle to a potential appointment.
"It's of no concern to Alan. His record is second to none," added Smith. "He wasn't going to come back to something that didn't whet his appetite. He doesn't need to go back, but there does come a time when you want to go back, and Wolves is a big, traditional football club going places.
"But like every other club in the bottom half of the table, a few bad results land you right in it. The ramifications aren't even worth thinking about given what progress they're making off the field. So I can understand them wanting him, and I can understand him being interested in them."
Smith, however, has ruled Curbishley out of the two npower Football League vacancies in Yorkshire. Leeds and League One promotion chasers Huddersfield, who surprisingly sacked Lee Clark, are both looking for new managers. Asked if Curbishley would be interested in either position, Smith said: "No, not at all.
"He's had plenty of opportunities to go in at Championship level, and they weren't for him. With anything below that, no chance."
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson, meanwhile, feels Wolves should go for Warnock or Gordon Strachan.
On Warnock, axed last month by QPR, Atkinson said: "I wonder if he might be just what they need. I know he's not everyone's favourite and his record isn't great, but he's always been swimming upstream and he is used to these situations."
Atkinson feels Strachan also possesses the character required at this time to haul Wolves out of the relegation mire.
Speaking to the Express & Star, he added: "Strach' must be considered. He comes into the Warnock category. He would be capable of getting players fired up. Push me into a corner and I would go for either Strachan or Warnock because of their potential to bring an immediate impact, and that's what Wolves need right now."
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