NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott hasn't been approached about Gold Coast's senior coaching vacancy and won't buy into speculation he is among the leading candidates to replace Rodney Eade.
The Suns informed Eade on Sunday night his tenure would not be extended beyond this season.
Scott has repeatedly been linked to Gold Coast in the second half of this season as Eade's position began to look shakier, while he was also linked to Collingwood's coaching job before Nathan Buckley recently firmed to be reappointed.
The Kangaroos coach is contracted at Arden St for 2018 and has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to the club, albeit with the rider that he will sit down with the Roos at the end of 2017 – as he says he does every year – to review whether he remains the best person to lead North.
Scott told reporters on Thursday his focus remained solely on the remainder of North's 2017 season.
"I haven't considered [being linked to the Suns' job] flattering or otherwise. I just understand that there's always speculation, so I've said repeatedly that I'm committed here and I'm focused on the rest of the season and trying to win every game we play, so that's where my focus is entirely," Scott said.
"I can tell you that I haven't been sounded out and it's not something that is going to concern me.
"I've got my commitment here to North so I can't stop anyone else speculating, I can't stop anyone else talking about it. All I can do is focus on my task at hand and that's what I'll be doing."
Experienced assistant coaches John Barker (Carlton), Stuart Dew (Sydney) and Adam Kingsley (St Kilda) have been touted as possible replacements for Eade, while former Carlton senior coach Brett Ratten, now an assistant at Hawthorn, is also likely to be in the mix.
Suns assistant Dean Solomon has been named the club's interim coach for the final three rounds after Eade opted to finish immediately. Solomon, who has been with Gold Coast since its inaugural 2011 season, could also be considered to take on the role permanently.
Scott is in his eighth season as North coach. He led the Roos to the finals four times from 2012-16, reaching preliminary finals in 2014 and 2015.
North embarked on a list rebuild at the end of last season, delisting veterans Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito before Daniel Wells opted to join Collingwood as a free agent.
As widely expected, North has had a tough season this year, winning just five games.
But the Kangaroos have been competitive in most of their games while blooding 10 debutants.
North chairman Ben Buckley said last week Scott had done a "really good job" in 2017, but stressed the club would not consider extending the coach's contract beyond 2018 before the end of the season.
