Monday 9 February 2015 14:44, UK
Hull boss Steve Bruce has rubbished reports linking him with a summer move to Fulham.
His comments come just a week after he was fielding questions over his future following his side's 3-0 home defeat to Newcastle which saw them slip into the relegation zone.
Bruce, who was also tipped to succeed Alan Pardew at St James' Park last month, insists he is focused on Tuesday's match against Aston Villa and that any talk of a move to Fulham is disrespectful to the Londoners' boss Kit Symons.
"I was getting the sack the day before, and then Fulham want me," said the former Wigan and Birmingham manager.
"The biggest problem I've got with the whole thing is they've got a manager in situ at Fulham and I've got huge respect for Kit who is new to the job.
"I can't comment on it because if I comment it just fuels it even more, and as far as I'm concerned it's rubbish journalism."
Saturday's 1-1 draw at Manchester City has provided a timely confidence boost to his side and Bruce admits the next month could shape the club's top-flight future.
Hull face QPR, Stoke and Sunderland during the period and Bruce has demanded his players match their form against the big clubs in the vital relegation scraps.
"This cluster of games we have coming up are going to be crucial to us," he said. "We've got to show the resilience and attitude we had at Liverpool and Arsenal and Manchester City.
"That's where we were very good last year - we beat the teams around us and unfortunately this season we haven't done that, and we have to address it over the next few weeks."
Bruce could recall new boy Dame N'Doye and fellow striker Nikica Jelavic to his starting line-up for the visit of Villa after the pair started on the bench against City.
