Albion want former captain Danny Wilson to be their manager - but Bristol City have turned down an official approach.

And Wilson is not interested anyway, according to the Robins' chairman John Laycock.

Albion chairman Dick Knight has made a move for Wilson in a bid to finally end the uncertainty surrounding the Seagulls' vacancy since Peter Taylor's resignation at the end of April.

Laycock, speaking on the Bristol City web site, revealed today: "Brighton contacted me on Thursday night about Danny's position and I told him of their interest to see what his reaction would be.

"He is not interested in going there and as a club we are not interested in letting him go.

"I have contacted Brighton to inform them of those facts so that is where the matter ends.

"This sort of thing will happen when you have a high profile manager and of course Danny has past associations with Brighton. But I think it is important for the fans to know we are backing Danny in his efforts to win promotion for our club."

Wilson, who is under contract at Ashton Gate, said today: "It is the first day of pre-season and I am manager of Bristol City. There is nothing more to say."

We revealed in May that a move for Wilson had support at boardroom level and that Albion would be prepared to poach another club's manager and pay compensation.

Knight is known to have held talks with former Brentford boss Steve Coppell, ex-Wimbledon chief Terry Burton and Albion's current director of youth Martin Hinshelwood.

No external candidate has fitted the bill so far and Knight is reluctant to make another internal appointment following the Seagulls' form slump under Jeff Wood three years ago.

Wilson would be a popular choice with fans. The 42-year-old Lancastrian and ex-Northern Ireland international scored 39 goals in 155 games from midfield for the Seagulls between 1983 and 1987 and was made skipper by Chris Cattlin.

Wilson made an instant impact in management, steering Barnsley to the Premiership for a season. He then moved to Sheffield Wednesday and has taken Bristol City to the brink of the Second Division play-offs for the past two seasons.

Chief executive Martin Perry has once again quashed persistent speculation linking Arsenal stalwart Tony Adams with the Albion post. "He is certainly not under consideration," Perry said.