Dover boss Andy Hessenthaler has admitted he would be interested in the vacant managerial post at Watford.

But Hessenthaler, whose side are nine points clear at the top of the Ryman League Premier Division with a game in hand, insisted that he had not been contacted by the Vicarage Road club, where he enjoyed a successful spell as a player.

The former Gillingham manager said: "The problem I have got in this situation is that whatever I say won't sound good to some people.

"From the first day I took over at Dover I made it plain that my ambition was to manage in the Football League again at some point, and whenever a vacancy occurs at Gillingham, Watford or Barnet I am bound to get linked to it because I have played for those clubs.

"I can't do anything about that, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested in the Watford job. I am flattered to be linked with it because they are a great club.

"But I repeat that I have not been approached by them, and anyway they would have to go through the chairman (Jim Parmenter) first because I am under contract at Dover."

Mr Parmenter dismissed the situation as "pure speculation" which had come about because fans on a Watford website said they would like Hessenthaler to be their next manager.

He added: "Watford have made no contact with me and they have made no contact with Andy. He's under contract to us and, and to be honest, I am getting fed up with journalists asking me about it because there's just no story there."

Hessenthaler previously managed in the Football League for Gillingham where he held the post from June 2000 until November 2004.