Roberto Di Matteo is growing in stature as a boss in lower league football, a fact reflected in his recent League Manager's Association quarterly award - in which his early season success was deemed to be of more significance than that of either Sir Alex Ferguson or Rafa Benitez.

The former Chelsea midfielder has only been a club manager for six months, occupying the position at Milton Keynes Dons formerly held by Paul Ince.

Like Ince, Di Matteo has been thriving in the lower divisions.

However, unlike Ince, it appears that Di Matteo is not keen on progressing to the Premier League post-haste, and he has quashed rumours suggesting that he will be replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge - though he is "flattered" by the link.

"It's flattering that the fans still remember you in good terms," he told the MK Dons' official website in reference to the fans who had posted his name on banners along with Gianfranco Zola's.

"I always had a good relationship with the fans, but that's it as far as I am concerned. I haven't even thought about it [the Chelsea position]. There's a lot that I have to do here, that I want to do here, and my ambition is to be successful."

The Football Union of Russia have recently confirmed that Chelsea have approached them about the possibility of temporarily appointing Guus Hiddink as club manager at Stamford Bridge.

It is expected that Hiddink will continue his work with Russia, while also controlling club affairs at Chelsea, should the deal go ahead. Meanwhile, Di Matteo will happily pursue his mission at MK Dons.