Harlee Dean has offered powerful backing behind Mark Warburton staying as Brentford manager but knows his support will carry little weight in the boardroom.

Bees owner Matthew Benham is keen on bringing Rayo Vallecano manager Paco Jemez to the club after growing frustrated with a lack of action in the January transfer window with the popular boss set to be axed, regardless of what division they’re playing in .

The playing squad are all fully behind Warburton, who insisted he would not quit , and Dean offered a powerful vocal message of support.

He said: “We’re all together. It’s a squad. It’s the management, the staff and the players. The manager has got our backing. He’s supported us and we’ll support him.

“He’s dedicated to us and we’re dedicated to him. We’re going to try hard for the rest of the season.

“Ever since I signed for Brentford, he’s backed me. I had a tough spell at the beginning of the season. He stuck with me and I want to repay him.

“I think all the boys want him to stay but what I want and what will happen is neither here nor there. Could we have got there without him? No. Do we owe a lot to him? Yes. He’s got our full backing.

“The powers that be are the ones who decide things. I’m just a player and I can’t comment. From the players’ point of view, we back the manager and always respect him and give him our all.”

The reports surfaced on the morning of Brentford’s 2-1 defeat against Watford. Jake Bidwell was sent off in the first half before Andre Gray gave the Bees the lead and promptly celebrated by running to his manager, along with the rest of the squad.

However, although Troy Deeney saw his penalty saved by David Button, Odion Ighalo was on hand to score two late goals to give the Hornets the victory.

Dean revealed Warburton addressed the squad about the speculation, but insisted it did not affect the performance, which had appeared to be flat prior to Bidwell’s red.

He added: “We put in a good performance regardless of what is going on. We’re fully behind the manager and that’s the way it will be for the rest of the season. He wants us to go up and be the best he can be.

“He brought it up as questions were in people’s heads. He carried on with the same message. He was more frustrated the focus had been taken off the players with how well we are doing.

“He was annoyed it was on the day of the game and a bit embarrassed about it coming out. Nothing changed for us. It made us support him even more as you saw with the celebration with the goal.”

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