Derek McInnes says he is totally focused on Aberdeen's Scottish Cup final preparations and has not been distracted by speculation linking him to Sunderland.
The Dons boss has been linked with the vacancy at the Stadium of Light as a replacement for David Moyes, who resigned on Monday following the club's relegation from the Premier League.
Former Rangers boss Walter Smith is understood to be advising chief executive Martin Bain on the appointment and publicly backed McInnes when the Ibrox manager's role was vacant earlier this year.
McInnes has led Aberdeen to three consecutive runners-up spots in the Premiership as well as the 2014 League Cup - the club's first trophy for 19 years - and the speculation emerged ahead of his side's Scottish Cup final against Celtic this weekend, live on Sky Sports 1.
However, when asked if the role was something that would interest him, McInnes said: "All my interest is tomorrow's game and preparing the team.
"Honestly, it's been no distraction whatsoever. It just doesn't play a part, to be honest. At this stage of the season a lot of English clubs have finished up and when there are managerial changes and there are players moving on or players going out of contract, there's loads of speculation.
"I've had speculation about my players for three months, players out of contract, players under contract. It's just the nature of the game. It's just speculation and it's had no bearing on our preparation."