St Mirren chairman Gordon Scott has insisted Sunderland have not been given permission to talk to manager Jack Ross amid reports he is set to be unveiled as the English club's new manager.
New Black Cats' owner Stewart Donald revealed on Wednesday morning that he hoped to appoint Chris Coleman's replacement by the end of the day with Ross, who led the Buddies to the Scottish Championship title at the end of the season, understood to be at the top of his list of targets.
However, Scott told Press Association Sport: "There has been no contact from Sunderland with us and Jack is on holiday, so unless there is some major skulduggery going on, then it's nonsense.
Read more: Jack Ross on the verge of leaving St Mirren for Sunderland
"To hold talks with Jack, 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."
Donald had earlier told talkSPORT that he was close to getting the man he wanted to replace Coleman - who left the club earlier this month as former owner Ellis Short prepared to sell it - on a two-year deal with the option of a third based on performance.
The former Eastleigh chairman said: "On the manager front, we have agreed literally this morning, so we are just drawing up contracts with the man we want. I am expecting there to be news on that very soon.
"We've agreed terms and literally the contracts are with the lawyers. The man in question is absolutely thrilled, which is what we want, and I'm absolutely delighted that he's coming, so that's exciting for us.
"I'm hoping that by the end of the day, we can reveal that."
Pushed on the identity of the man he wants to put into the Stadium of Light hot-seat, Donald declined to name names, but ruled out a return for either Coleman or former boss Mick McCarthy, and also confirmed it was not Frank Lampard, Neil Lennon, Kevin Phillips or Alan Pardew.
Ross has been a hot favourite with bookmakers for several days with Shrewsbury's Paul Hurst also being mentioned in dispatches.
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