This is the exact transcript of the press conference when Blackburn Rovers boss Mark Hughes was asked about the Newcastle United job.

Is the Newcastle speculation flattering or unsettling?

"It didn't unsettle us and I was pleased with that.

"There was a lot of speculation surrounding the game but we didn't allow that to hamper our preparations.

"If you prepare properly and everyone is focused on the job in hand then you can get positive results, and I was as pleased with that as I was with the result."

You said you were poor but happy, to sum it up, on Friday. Is that still the case?

"Yes. Listen, I've got a job to do here. Speculation has surrounded me when other vacancies have appeared but I'm still the Blackburn Rovers manager.

"I've got a good situation here and I'm very conscious of that.

"All I'm trying to do is do the job to the best of my ability, along with the rest of my staff, and that's all I can do.

"Speculation isn't something that I try to generate; I'm not in to self-promotion, it just happens as a consequence of being a professional football manager, and there's not a lot I can do about it.

Has there been any contact at all from Newcastle?

"No. Not with me. I don't know if John (Williams, the chairman) has had any.

"I doubt it because I've just seen him and he hasn't mentioned it.

When you say you've got a good situation here, is that you saying you intend to stay, regardless?

"It's a situation that I'm comfortable with. I've got great support from my chairman and the board and that's something that you don't give up lightly.

"I think the fact I have continuity here helps me to do the job better because I know that things are in place.

"As with all things, certainly connected with football management, you need time, and I've been given that here at this club so I'm very conscious of that.

You could end the speculation by saying right here and right now that you want to stay and you don't want to go to Newcastle.

"That's a hypothetical question and I don't answer hypothetical questions.

If it's in your hands, will you still be the Blackburn Rovers manager at the end of the season?

"It's not in my hands, is it? It's in my chairman's hands and thank God we won today.

"I've got a good club here, I'm proud to be Blackburn Rovers' manager. In football you can never say."

But if the choice was yours, would you still be at Blackburn at the end of the season?

"The choice, whether or not it's mine, the chairman's or whatever, sometimes things get taken out of your hands.

"I'm just very proud to be Blackburn Rovers' manager.

"It's not easy working with the speculation surrounding your position but maybe it's better to have good speculation rather than speculation about your job and that you might be losing it.

"Out of both, I know which one I would choose."

Have you discussed with John Williams what would happen if they did make an approach?

"No I haven't."