SAM RICKETTS has played down speculation linking him with the vacant manager's job at Shrewsbury.

The former Wales international, appointed Wrexham boss in May, is bookmakers' favourite to succeed John Askey who was sacked by the League One club last week.

But with Wrexham among the National League frontrunners, Ricketts insists him being put forward for the position is recognition of the progress made at The Racecourse this season.

"It is flattering for me, it is flattering for the club, ultimately I look at that as saying I am doing my job," said Ricketts, who saw Wrexham come from behind to draw 1-1 at Maidstone on Saturday.

"I was brought into this club to try and get this club to realise its potential.

"If I am not doing that then I don’t think anyone would be noticing what Wrexham as a club are doing.

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"But it is not just me, myself, my staff, players and people behind the scenes who do an awful lot of work to see us where we are in the table.

"Yes I am the figure head for it, and it is flattering for people to say how well the club are going, but I look at it as though basically I am doing my job"

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Wrexham's promotion challenge faltered badly last season when manager Dean Keates left to take charge of hometown club Walsall in March but Ricketts insists Shrewsbury have not been in contact.

"No-one has phoned me basically," said Ricketts. "I'll say it again, it's me doing my job. If I'm not doing my job no one rings me.

"Team Sky have got a great saying of ‘marginal gains’. When you speak to Team Sky, that is just doing your job, if you are not trying to be better tomorrow than you were today then you are not doing your job.

"My job is to get this club as high as we can in the football structure, both on and an off the field.

"Discussions are going on every day on how we keep improving, my biggest thing is how we keep improving, not only on the pitch but also off the pitch.

"There is an awful lot of work that goes on behind the scenes trying to build the platforms for this club to be successful and that is what we are doing on a daily basis."

Ricketts, who signed a three-year deal when he took up his first managerial role at The Racecourse, insists he is happy at the club.

"The people who run the club are fantastic, they do an awful lot, they are not paid by the club, they do an awful lot out of their own time and I have a great relationship with them and if anyone phoned they would tell me," added Ricketts.

"I am not knocking on the door asking ‘has anyone rung’.

"I am very happy here. What we’ve done so far this season is built a solid start and all we are trying to do every day is to improve."