'It's news to me': Bowyer plays down Swindon rumours

Bowyer was installed as the bookies' favourite yesterday with SkyBet offering odds as short as 7/2 for him to take the hotseat at the County Ground.

It follows speculation on social media that the Pool boss was set to take the up the role, which was made vacant following Swindon’s relegation to League Two.

Responding to the speculation, Bowyer said: “It’s news to me.

“I got told this morning by someone else that I was being linked to another job. He said ‘you’ve been linked with such and such’. I said ‘have I?’

“He said ‘yeah, you’re 25/1’. Well, that’s not being linked is it?"

Bowyer arrived at Bloomfield Road during the summer after being sacked by Blackburn Rovers in November 2015.

He has since managed to bring stability to the club after their back-to-back relegations - and his side now stand 90 minutes away from an instant return to League One.

The Seasiders are preparing to take on Exeter City on Sunday in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

He added: “Blackpool were brilliant with me in the summer because they gave me a job.

“Jobs are difficult to come by and you look at the number of foreigners coming into management - not just in the Premier League, but in the Championship and even League One - it’s making it very difficult for English managers.

“So at this moment in time, I’m delighted to be working here.”

Swindon parted ways with Luke Williams at the start of this month after they lost their League One status with a defeat to Scunthorpe on the penultimate weekend of the season. Williams was appointed in January 2016 and was later given a fresh five-year deal after winning six of his first 10 games in charge.

Swindon chairman Lee Power revealed the club’s shortlist had been trimmed to three names – but admitted it was a “tough sell”. The club appeared ready to strike a deal for Mansfield manager Steve Evans until he ruled himself out.

Two others linked to the role, Steve Cotterill and Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald, have also distanced themselves from the job.

Power said he wanted to have a manager in place by the end of the week but later conceded there was no rush – prompting speculation he could be waiting until Bowyer’s season ends at Blackpool.

Power insisted he won’t shy away from targeting managers in jobs, adding: “There’s been speculation for different managers. If the right one is there and we get permission to speak to them and it costs money, then it does.”