Cape Town - Eddie Howe has rubbished reports linking him with the Arsenal job when Arsene Wenger finally calls time on his career at the Emirates Stadium.
Reports on Wednesday suggested the Bournemouth boss was being lined up as a replacement, and the movement of Jack Wilshere to the south-coast club was part of a wider agreement.
Howe was quick to dismiss the speculation, by reaffirming his commitment to the Cherries.
"I am loyal. I love the town and I want to continue that association for as long as possible," he said. "It's meaningless. I don't want to hear it. I don't need to hear it. I just want to win games.
"It's very hard to predict the future. If you try to then you come unstuck. In football management, you live week to week. You turn a blind eye to speculation and anyone that tells me about it I believe it is not meaningful and it doesn't help me get results for this club."
Bournemouth chairperson Jeff Mostyn has, meanwhile, warned the Gunners against considering Howe.
"We have a man of immense talent and any man of talent, whatever business you are in, is always going to be sought after," Mostyn said.
"We see that very much as a compliment. But Eddie is a Bournemouth boy through and through. He has been with the football club since he was 10.
"There is unfinished business. He wants to ensure that if and when he does move on he will leave a legacy. A legacy that will ensure AFC Bournemouth are a Premier League side, not a side that is aspiring to retain its position every year.
"He has made it clear that over the next two or three years hopefully we can establish ourselves as a thoroughbred Premier League side and only then would he consider moving on."
Reports on Wednesday suggested the Bournemouth boss was being lined up as a replacement, and the movement of Jack Wilshere to the south-coast club was part of a wider agreement.
Howe was quick to dismiss the speculation, by reaffirming his commitment to the Cherries.
"I am loyal. I love the town and I want to continue that association for as long as possible," he said. "It's meaningless. I don't want to hear it. I don't need to hear it. I just want to win games.
"It's very hard to predict the future. If you try to then you come unstuck. In football management, you live week to week. You turn a blind eye to speculation and anyone that tells me about it I believe it is not meaningful and it doesn't help me get results for this club."
Bournemouth chairperson Jeff Mostyn has, meanwhile, warned the Gunners against considering Howe.
"We have a man of immense talent and any man of talent, whatever business you are in, is always going to be sought after," Mostyn said.
"We see that very much as a compliment. But Eddie is a Bournemouth boy through and through. He has been with the football club since he was 10.
"There is unfinished business. He wants to ensure that if and when he does move on he will leave a legacy. A legacy that will ensure AFC Bournemouth are a Premier League side, not a side that is aspiring to retain its position every year.
"He has made it clear that over the next two or three years hopefully we can establish ourselves as a thoroughbred Premier League side and only then would he consider moving on."