Gianfranco Zola insists he would not quit West Ham in order to take over at his former club Chelsea.
With Luiz Felipe Scolari's position at Stamford Bridge becoming increasingly unstable, reports suggest the Blues may be in the hunt for a new boss in the near future.
Former fans' favourite Zola would be an obvious choice, helping to appease those supporters who have grown disillusioned with the club.
The Italian has made a positive impact with the Hammers this term, his first managerial post, having stepped into the void created by Alan Curbishley's departure in September 2008.
He has led the club into the Premier League's European hunt and has received widespread acclaim for the manner in which he goes about his job.
However, he has made it clear that an emotional return to Chelsea is out of the question, insisting he has every intention of repaying West Ham's faith in his credentials.
"In football you never know what lies round the corner but I have no intention of walking out on West Ham," Zola said in the Sunday Mirror.
"I owe a lot to them. Not many clubs would haven given me this opportunity. "My main aim is to do well here and repay the faith West Ham and their supporters have shown in me.
"It's not in my nature to walk out on something that has only just begun."