Alan Irvine has become the favourite to take over from Tony Mowbray at the Hawthorns.

"I want to assure supporters that as I give this interview, first thing on Friday morning, we have not had any contact from West Bromwich Albion over the services of Alan Irvine - and we do not want any," PNE chairman Derek Shaw told the club's official website.

"If any calls came in then the decision would be down to the manager himself, if the terms of his contract were met, but this is something we would vehemently oppose."

St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes has said he wants to stay with the SPL newcomers, leaving Irvine as the front-runner.