Steve Coppell has ruled himself out of the running for the Republic of Ireland job.

The 52-year-old Reading boss is being linked with the vacant hotseat after Steve Staunton threw in the towel following the Republic's failed Euro 2008 campaign.

The fact Coppell has four Ireland internationals - Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Stephen Hunt and Alan Bennett - on his books at Reading would also have given him a clear head-start in the role.

Coppell, whose grandmother was Irish, spoke of his ambitions in a recent interview with former Cork City manager turned Setanta Sports football pundit, Pat Dolan, who is the brother of Royals Academy director Eamonn.

However, the ex-England and Manchester United winger insisted his comments have been taken out of context and he stressed he has no intention of leaving the Madejski Stadium.

Coppell, who has won the League Managers Association's top Manager of the Year Award for the past two seasons, said: "Pat Dolan did an interview with me and we talked about international management.

"I said it tickles and appeals to me so he mentioned the Ireland job. As a joke, I said my grandmother was Irish, but that's all it was, a joke.

"I don't know if it got interpreted the wrong way but I wouldn't read too much into it."