Warburton - I will not be next Fulham manager

Rangers manager Mark Warburton has stressed that he will "absolutely" not be the next manager of Fulham.

The Craven Cottage club are looking for a replacement for Kit Symons who was sacked last month with reports stating that the Ibrox club have been made aware of Fulham's interest and will offer Warburton an improved package as an incentive to stay at the Ladbrokes Championship leaders.

Warburton took to his Twitter account on Wednesday to reassure Light Blues fans, saying amid a series of tweets: "I am going nowhere and no club has approached me."

Speaking at the club's Murray Park training ground ahead of the visit to Raith Rovers in the Championship on Saturday, when asked if he could categorically say he would not be the next manager of Fulham, the 53-year-old replied: "Absolutely. Please hear my words. It is very disrespectful to me, the club, the supporters and this case, Fulham. So categorically, absolutely, that is the case.

"I am the Rangers manager. I made it very clear last week, Saturday and Tuesday and last night I was forced into saying once again that I am absolutely committed to Rangers."

Warburton, who also denied being offered extra incentives to stay at the Govan club such as an increased transfer budget for January, insists all the recent talk linking him to the English Championship club has not been a distraction as he tries to keep his side at the top of the table with the 4-0 win over Dumbarton at Ibrox on Tuesday night taking the Light Blues three points clear of second-placed Hibernian.

The former Brentford boss said: "Not at all. It's a great group of players, absolutely committed as you saw on Tuesday night.

"We prepared well, the pitch was heavy and our squad is fairly thin. We are looking forward to Raith."

Warburton claims he has not been surprised by the focus on him as Rangers boss since he was appointed in the summer.

He said: "It is intense, isn't it? That side of it I understand. It is a huge club, a massive club and I understand that side of it and I have no problem with that at all.

"You seen the very first day, the press conference at the announcement of my position, you see the size and scale of the club, the global fan base, the expectation, stature, history, all the things you say time and again.

"You have to be aware of it, have to respect it, recognise it and you have to enjoy it. If not, don't take the job in the first place."

Rangers beat Raith Rovers 5-0 at Ibrox in September but Warburton is expecting a tougher time in Kirkcaldy.

He said: "I have never been there but they had a fantastic start to the season in terms of their home record.

"We had a really good performance at home against them but there is no doubt it will be a tough test at the weekend."