Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand rules himself OUT of race for the Aston Villa job as he insists he is 'not going anywhere' and that he has 'only just started' with the national side

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Kasper Hjulmand will not be the next Aston Villa manager after the Denmark boss ruled himself out of taking over at Villa Park.

The Villans are on the hunt for a new head coach after the club parted ways with boss Dean Smith over the weekend, with the ex-Brentford boss overseeing a run of five defeats on the trot.

Sportsmail understands that Steven Gerrard is the Villa hierarchy's top choice to take the job, and they have compiled a shortlist that includes Roberto Martinez, Thomas Frank and Hjulmand. 

Kasper Hjulmand has taken himself out of the running for the vacancy at Aston Villa

However, the Denmark boss has distanced himself from the vacancy after insisting that he is 'happy' with the national side.  

'I’m happy to be the Danish national coach, and I’m not going anywhere right now,' he said on Tuesday. 

'I have only just started and I am in the process of finding out what this team can do.

The Villans are after a new manager following their dismissal of Dean Smith over the weekend

However Hjulmand says he is 'happy' with the national side and is 'not going anywhere'

'I love the job. For me, it is a big challenge to see how far we can go and how well we can get to play because we have a very exciting team.' 

Villa will make a formal approach to Rangers to speak to boss Gerrard over the vacancy, with owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens and chief executive Christian Purslow impressed by the job he has done at Ibrox.

The former Liverpool and England captain is under contract at Rangers until 2024 and has shown impressive loyalty to the club since he became their manager in May 2018 — his first role as a boss after working with Liverpool’s age-group teams.

Steven Gerrard is the club's No 1 target for the job following his success with Rangers

If Villa are granted permission to speak to him and can agree compensation with Rangers, it is thought Gerrard would be interested in listening to the proposal.

Not everything has gone to plan for Rangers since they won their 55th Scottish title in spectacular style — they finished the season unbeaten — and Gerrard was frustrated about the club’s inability to strengthen ahead of a potential Champions League campaign.

Frank Lampard and Ralph Hasenhuttl have also been considered, but it is unlikely Hasenhuttl would leave Southampton at this stage.