Neil Warnock has ruled out a potential return to Cardiff City amid reports linking him with the vacancy at the club.
The Bluebirds are on the hunt for their third manager of the season following the departure of Mark Hudson on Saturday.
Hudson only took over at the Cardiff City Stadium in September after Steve Morrison's sacking, but was dismissed after just four wins in his 18 games in charge, leaving the club 21st in the Championship table, just three points above the relegation zone.
Warnock has been out of work since leaving Middlesbrough last November and had claimed he had retired from management, but the Daily Mail reported earlier this month that the Bluebirds were considering trying to convince the 74-year-old to come back to South Wales.
He had an excellent first stint at the club, leading them to promotion to the Premier League in 2018, but Warnock confirmed he will not be replacing Hudson.
"I've not spoken to anybody there," Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Everybody thinks it's already been cut and dried - no chance.
"You'll see when they appoint a manager next week - they've got to appoint somebody this week or early next week.
"What they need is possibly somebody football wise behind the manager and helping the manager because it's a great club."
Warnock also says he has no plans to return to management and is content doing media work.
"I've been mentioned with every job going at the moment," Warnock said.
"Listen I'm retired now. And when I do work I only work March and April - it's too early for me now January and February.
"I'm enjoying myself now, I'm doing other things. I'm enjoying doing podcasts, I did one last week with Steve Bruce.
"And I've got a few more to do and booked a couple of holidays which I've wanted to do - which you can't do in the season.
"And the pressure and those things that they talk about, I've not missed it.
"I did originally for the first few months because I was really disappointed with the way I left Middlesbrough."
Dean Whitehead is currently in caretaker charge of Cardiff and suffered a 5-2 defeat to Premier League side Leeds United at Elland Road in his first game on Wednesday night, but the 41-year-old confirmed he expects to continue in the role for Saturday's home clash against Millwall.
The verdict
Warnock's comments are something of a surprise as he was widely expected to return to Cardiff.
While he has previously said he has retired from management, truthfully it is difficult to know when to believe Warnock as he has made that claim many times before.
But it does seem as though he has finally called time on his outstanding career and if the Bluebirds, a club he has such a strong relationship with, cannot tempt him back, then it is unlikely anyone else could.
It is a blow to Cardiff though and you feel they desperately need to make an appointment soon as their position becomes increasingly precarious.