The Sun tabloid reported that the Swede was targeting Glenn Roeder's job, although Eriksson's agent Athole Still swiftly issued a denial.

Shepherd told his club's official website: "This is all news to me.

"I have not spoken to Sven since he left the England job and I have no intention of speaking to him.

"Neither have I spoken to his agent Athole Still -- and as far as I am aware, they have not tried to approach us.

"In any case if they did, it would not matter because we already have a manager."

Still described claims linking Eriksson to Roeder's job at Newcastle, where a series of poor results in the Premiership has left Roeder's injury-hit side in the bottom four, as "malicious".

Still insisted there had been no contact between the two parties and has denied Eriksson, who was last week linked with West Ham, is looking to resurrect his career at St James' Park.

He told the Press Association news agency: "It does not surprise me, because he was linked with West Ham. Such is his stature that if there is a vacancy he is going to be linked with a job.

"But I have spoken to Sven, and he is not happy at the suggestion that he has targeted Newcastle -- which gives quite a different slant to the thing.

"To suggest he is looking at a club where there is another professional coach in site, it is absolute rubbish to say that. He would never do that.

"It is one thing to say that a club is interested in him -- and in this case, there has been no contact whatsoever -- but to say he has targeted the job of another coach is absolutely unacceptable and is malicious."

Eriksson has been out of work since leaving his post as England coach after this summer's World Cup Finals.

The Swede has been linked with several jobs since, although Still has repeatedly spoken of his desire to take on a club with the potential to compete in the Champions League.

The right opportunity is yet to come along, but Eriksson's agent is confident it is only a matter of time.

"There have been lots of clubs interested, but somebody at his level has to wait for the right job," Still said.

"The right job will come, and I believe it will come sooner rather than later."