The 42-year-old had been linked with the managerial position at the Israeli side following the departure of Barak Bakhar, but Higgins said his focus remains on winning the Irish Premiership with Coleraine for just the second time in their history.

The Bannsiders won the Irish Cup for the first time since 2018 during Higgins' first full season in charge last campaign and they currently sit second in the league after a strong start to the season.

"There was definitely something in it, but you know how it works nowadays, it's very much data-driven and computerised," Higgins said.

"All I know is I was on a data-driven shortlist, but that's as much as I can say and it's not something that appeals to me. That's the truth.

"I genuinely mean this, this is the happiest I've been in football in a long, long time. I've never been as well looked after in my career, from 14 years of age when I went to England to Coventry, I've never been as happy.

"The way this club looks after me, the staff and everyone that is at this club has been unbelievable. I absolutely love it here and I have a job to do and I've been brought in to do that job and I want to see the job through."

'I have so much to prove'

Higgins joined the Bannsiders in May last year after three years in charge of Premier Division side Derry City, who he led to success in the 2022 FAI Cup final.

Having secured a League of Ireland winner's medal during his playing career with Dundalk in 2014, the former midfielder is now determined to win a league title as a manager with the Bannsiders.

"I know how hard happiness is to find in life, particularly after the last number of years and it would take a lot more than finances and to be honest, I have so much to prove. I've never won a league as a manager," he continued.

"When I took the Derry City job on, we were rock bottom of the league after seven games and what I have proven is that I can make teams better and challenge and I have won a few cups but one thing that I haven't done yet is make teams better and win a league.

"That's something that we have to strive towards and it's something that we'll work endlessly and tirelessly to try and achieve."

Coleraine sit just one point off top spot following a 3-0 defeat by leaders Linfield in their last game, which ended their five-game unbeaten run.

However, Higgins is confident his side can bounce back from that disappointing result when they host Portadown on Friday.

"We put the [Linfield] game to bed after our meeting on Monday and we obviously addressed certain things but there's been a real focus about us this week," he added.

"There has been a real drive and a real energy and I hope that we can see those traits on the pitch and if we do, then we could have a successful evening.

"We have, I feel, a real good mentality and we're more than capable of bouncing back when we need to."