Being the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next manager of Rochdale game was news to Barrow AFC boss Ian Evatt, who remains solely focused on pushing the Bluebirds up the National League table.

Rochdale are looking for someone to replace the successful Keith Hill, who was sacked on Monday after a second spell in charge at Spotland that had lasted six years, following a run of just one in 12 games in League One.

The bookies’ odds on Evatt replacing Hill rocketed in a matter of hours from 7/1 to being clear favourite at 1/5 in the build-up to AFC’s breathless 3-2 defeat against Leyton Orient on Tuesday.

There were even rumours of the 37-year-old being interviewed by the Dale yesterday afternoon, but sources at the club who were contacted knew nothing about this.

When asked for his reaction to the rumours surrounding his future, Evatt said: “I don’t know. I don’t know anything about it, that’s the truth.

“Obviously someone knows something that I don’t because I am manager of Barrow.

“All I’m saying is that I don’t know anything about it, it’s as simple as that. I honestly don’t.

“Someone mentioned it to me before the game – I had been concentrating on preparing this team, ready for Leyton Orient.

“I don’t know anything about odds, linking or anything like that. I’m manager of Barrow until someone tells me otherwise.”