SANDY, Utah — The Real Salt Lake front office, coaches and players were as shocked as anyone this week when longtime general manager Garth Lagerwey was linked to the same post at struggling Toronto FC, especially since it appears he has no plans of going anywhere.

Lagerwey has not made an official statement on the link, which was first reported in the Toronto Star when the news broke Wednesday that the Reds were parting ways with president and GM Kevin Payne.

But an RSL team spokesman insisted this week that Lagerwey – who was hired in Sept. 2007 and has been a chief architect of the team’s runaway success ever since – is under contract through the 2014 season.

"I just chalk it up to exactly what they are – it’s rumors," head coach Jason Kreis told reporters. "I don't think there is any base to [the report]. I think that people are always going to be looking at things according to how they feel.”

Real Salt Lake currently lead the Supporters’ Shield race by five points over the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders and appear primed for their sixth consecutive postseason appearance this fall. They return to action Sept. 21 at home against San Jose.