Clarke plays down Chelsea connection (From Free Press Series)

Clarke plays down Chelsea connection

7:01am Friday 1st March 2013 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke insists it is too early to start touting him as a possible successor to interim Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez this summer.

But Clarke, who spent nearly 20 years at Stamford Bridge as player and coach, concedes it is his ambition to manage "a big club" at some stage of his career.

Clarke said: "I think it's too early to start connecting me with Chelsea. There are a lot of managers that are out there who have a better case than me. Wherever I am on the bookmakers list is a good indication and I'm sure I'm not in the list at 50-1 even!"

He added: "Listen, you've hit me with a question that has come out of left field because I haven't even thought about it. I'm not even a year into the job here. Up to now it has been a great season and I haven't looked anywhere beyond that.

"If you are asking me if I want to manage a top team in the future? Of course I do. If you don't have that ambition to further and better yourself then you shouldn't be in the game. But it's not for now.

"The dream for me is we go to Chelsea and play as well as we can and get another three points.

"I cannot look so far ahead. It's not my nature. You guys should know that by now."

Clarke went on: "The connection with Chelsea is inevitable. I can't do anything about the connection.

"Chelsea is a big part of me, I spent 20 years there out of nearly 50 in my life.

"It's a good club, good players, good team, always challenging for trophies and beyond that I don't see anything else."