​Linfield manager David Healy said reports linking him to the Shelbourne job was “people putting two and two together and coming up with any number they want”.Shelbourne announced on Monday that Sligo Rovers manager John Russell has signed a long-term contract to become their new head coach.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat news followed reports that Healy, who has been at the helm at the Blues since 2015, had reportedly held talks with the League of Ireland club, something which he refuted.”I’ve huge respect for Shelbourne as a football club, I’ve been down to Shelbourne with Ross [Oliver, assistant manager] and Willie [McKeown, head of recruitment] a few weeks ago in preparation of us getting through this round [of the Conference League] and it was important to see them. That’s what it was,” he told BBC Sport NI.”When you go down you sit with associates and club members, scouts and agents, but it doesn’t mean you’re sitting chatting about other things.”There wasn’t any communication club to club, it was people putting two and two together and coming up with any number they want.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLinfield could face Shelbourne in the second round of Conference League qualifying if they can progress past Nomme Kalju.The Estonians have a slender 1-0 advantage heading into the second leg in Belfast on Thursday, but Healy is confident his team can turn around that deficit at Windsor Park and set up a third European meeting with Shels in the space of a year.”Looking at last week, probably still tinged with a little bit of disappointment and frustration because I thought we were good value for at least a draw in the game,” Healy added.”We had good opportunities which we passed up and in European games they’re crucial. There’s still the belief in how we can play and make Windsor hard for them.”