Coleraine have hit back at claims made by St Mirren chief Gordon Scott regarding Oran Kearney's departure.
Kearney left the Buddies by mutual consent in June to return to his former club after his relationship with Scott broke down.
The pair clashed over the manager's plans to commute regularly from Northern Ireland to Paisley next season.
Scott insisted it was common knowledge Kearney was plotting a route back to Coleraine but the Danske Bank Premiership side have rejected his version of events.
A statement released on Wednesday said: "Coleraine FC have today read with disappointment the comments from St Mirren with regard to the recent appointment of Oran Kearney as our manager.
"We wish to set the record straight that Coleraine FC has at all times conducted itself in a professional manner, in accordance the rules and regulations of the IFA, and had no contact with Oran regarding the vacancy at the club until it was confirmed he had parted company from St Mirren.
"We had interviewed a number of candidates for the position and had been refused permission to speak to another candidate whom we had identified as potentially our new manager.
"Furthermore the last minute cancellation of the friendly with St Mirren was a major disappointment to not only Bannsiders but also to a number of St Mirren fans whom made the journey none the less to the North Coast.
"We look forward with confidence to the start of the Danske Bank Premiership season under the management of Oran."
Saints later appointed Jim Goodwin to replace Kearney, who kept the Paisley outfit in the Premiership via the play-offs last term.
And Scott said earlier this week: "It was the worst-kept secret in Scottish football that he was going.
"It should have been sorted the last day. Maybe he wasn't 100 per cent wanting to go but if you look at the Coleraine job, it's pretty obvious he was always going there."
