Brendan Rodgers has distanced himself from speculation linking him with the vacant manager’s job at Reading - insisting he is “concentrating fully” on Watford.

Rodgers is favourite to replace Steve Coppell at the Madejski Stadium and bookmakers had the Northern Irishman at 1/3 on yesterday.

Victor Chandler have today lengthened the figure slightly to 1/2 following Reading’s press conference this morning but bookies still expect Rodgers to be the next man to take charge of his adopted home-town club.

However, Rodgers said: “There is always going to be speculation as a manager and a coach. You are always honoured if you are linked with big jobs because it means you and your team are doing well.

“But in this moment, my concentration is fully on Watford and looking forward to next year.”

Watford’s chairman Jimmy Russo and chief executive Julian Winter have both released statements saying they expect Rodgers to stay.

Yesterday, Winter said: “We understand the fact that Brendan will be linked to Reading, it’s natural considering his history with the club and town.

“However, it is purely speculation. We have today [Wednesday] been in meetings planning for the forthcoming season and that has to be where our focus is as we build towards next year at Watford.”

Victor Chandler reported that Glenn Hoddle and Exeter boss Paul Tisdale have been popular with punters today, whereas interest in Rodgers has dropped.

Spokesman Neal Wilkins said: “We are still odds on about Rodgers taking over, but after the Reading press conference we are not so sure about whether he is such a perceived certainty.

“There was a significant run of money for him yesterday from some quite informed people and even when we were a very short price there were people wanting to back him. That said he’s not been popular today.”

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For the full story with quotes from Brendan Rodgers, Jimmy Russo and Victor Chandler’s Neal Wilkins, buy tomorrow’s Watford Observer.