Ian Murray shuts down next Hibs manager talk as Raith Rovers promotion takes priority

Ian Murray has shut down speculation linking him with the Hibs vacancy as he focused on leading Raith Rovers to promotion.

The former Easter Road defender is among the frontrunners for the job after Nick Montgomery was sacked earlier this week. Murray's stock is high after running Dundee United close in the Championship title race and he could guide Rovers to the Premiership play-off final if he manages to see off Partick Thistle tonight, having won the first leg 2-1 at Firhill.

And despite his name being mentioned for a stunning return to Leith, Murray insists he has bigger priorities to think about.

He said: "It's not something I think about. I've never been one for having a career path. Some people will have them and some don't. I just think football is so all over the place that the rug can be pulled from underneath you with good results or bad results or okay results - it's not your decision.

"So, having that sort of dangerous pathway and wanting something so much that it affects your current job is detrimental to you. Hibs are going through a tough time, there's no question about that, and they need to do something to try to arrest the decline in their league position going into next season, whoever they decide is the right guy for the job.

"That's fine. I'll be honest, it doesn't really come into my thought process. I'm 100-per-cent thinking about Friday night. And after that, if we get through, I'll be thinking about the next one."