St Mirren chairman Gordon Scott has insisted that unless there is "major skulduggery" happening then Jack Ross is not set to become the new Sunderland manager.
The Black Cats are looking for a new boss and are claimed to have agreed terms with the Buddies manager to take over at the Stadium of Light, as they bid to bounce back from relegation to the third tier in England.
Ross has held talks with English Championship club Ipswich Town, while Scott also admits that Barnsley have been in touch over the young manager.
But he says he has heard nothing from Sunderland and explained for the Black Cats to have been able to talk to Ross then permission would have to be granted by St Mirren.
Scott told Press Association Scotland Sport: "I've just heard these claims reported on talkSPORT. There has been no contact from Sunderland with us and Jack is on holiday.
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"So unless there is some major skulduggery going on then it’s nonsense.
"To hold talks with Jack, there [then] we would have to grant permission, as has been the case with Ipswich and Barnsley recently.
"But we've had no contact from Sunderland at all."
St Mirren have been hoping to keep hold of Ross, who guided the club up to the Scottish Premiership this season, but it has been suggested he will increase his salary fivefold by taking the Sunderland job.
