IT WAS business as usual for manager Nigel Adkins at Scunthorpe United yesterday as speculation persists over his future.

He remains one of the hot favourites with the bookmakers for the job at League One Southampton.

The Saints have had 30 applications to fill the vacancy from managers currently in employment.

Adkins is not one of them. That is not really his style.

He does have ambitions to move on from Glanford Park but believes it will be the work he has done here that will attract the interest of other chairmen.

That now has clearly happened, with Southampton last night reported to have been given permission to speak to the United boss.

Yesterday, after taking training as normal, Adkins insisted he was still focused on United.

But he refused the chance to pour cold water on the speculation linking him with the post.

"Obviously I am aware of all the speculation that is being led by the bookmakers and the media," the Iron boss told the Telegraph.

"Over the last few years at this club there has always been speculation linking one of our players to bigger clubs.

"There has also been speculation about myself.

"We have always been able to deal with it in the past and I am sure we will do the same now.

"I would like to think there is always going to be speculation because if there is, then it shows we are always going to be doing things positively and doing things right.

"When you look at it, it is good for Scunthorpe United to be linked in that way as well. It gives the supporters something to talk about.

"I am totally focused on Scunthorpe United – the wheels are already in motion preparing for our home game with Bristol City on Saturday – the first of seven we have before the next international break.

"I have been here at Scunthorpe now for 14 years.

"I think people can see how hard I work and I would like to think that rubs off on everybody else here.

"I am ambitious and there will come a day when I walk out of here, hopefully because of what we have achieved here – but who knows when that will be?"

Adkins has had four successful years in charge at Glanford Park and knows he is unlikely to find the same sort of working relationship elsewhere that he has had at United with Wharton.

But Southampton is the size of club that could prove an attraction to Adkins – if he felt the set-up was right.

The Saints were a Premier League club only five years ago and feel they have the potential to get back there.

"I am sure Southampton are actively looking to appoint a new manager as quickly as they can," said Adkins.

"Dean Wilkins has been put in temporary charge. He is a safe pair of hands – a similar situation I was in when Brian (Laws) left Scunthorpe.

"I am sure there have been plenty of applications for the role and a lot of highly thought of people who have applied for the job."

“You look at history of the club and fan base they have got.

“They are in their 125th season now.

“You look at the stadium and the ambition of where they want to go.

“As a club they suffered financially by going into administration.

“New owners are in there now and will want to try and keep Southampton Football Club moving forward.

“They will want to get back to the Championship as soon as possible.

“That is the obvious link with me because we have been promoted twice from the division Southampton now find themselves in.

“The chairman there now has an important decision to make.”