By David Dulin BBC Sport Wales

Paul Tisdale led Exeter City to back-to-back promotions

Exeter City vice-chairman Julian Tagg says manager Paul Tisdale has opted to stay with the League One club despite reported interest from Swansea City.

Tagg says in-demand Tisdale told the club's board that he does not intend to leave St James' Park just yet.

"He's a very talented manager and sooner or later he will go somewhere with our blessing," said Tagg, who denied Swansea had made an approach.

"Until then, we will try and keep hold of him and we're doing just that."

Tagg had previously said that the club would not stand in Tisdale's way if he wanted to leave for Swansea, but said his commitment to Exeter was "exceptional news for us".

Tisdale, 37, was linked with the Swansea job last year when the club were looking for a replacement for Roberto Martinez who left to take over at Premier League Wigan Athletic.

Reports suggested Tisdale turned down the chance to speak to the Swans then and the job eventually went to Paulo Sousa, who left the Welsh club on Sunday to take up the reins at Leicester City.

Now the Liberty Stadium hot seat is vacant again, Tisdale having been amongst the favourites for the job.

"I'm not in the least bit surprised," added Tagg. "Every time there's a job come up, our manager is top of the list, it was the same last year and he's still here."

Tisdale was appointed at St James' Park in 2006 after leading Team Bath to four promotions and in 2002 they became the first university side to reach the FA Cup first-round proper since 1881.

In his first season in charge he guided Exeter to the Conference play-off final, only to miss out on promotion to the Football League.

But Tisdale made amends a year later when they beat Cambridge United 1-0 at Wembley.

The Grecians then won back-to-back promotions on their return to the Football League, winning automatic promotion from League Two to League One.

606: DEBATE There must be a shortlist of candidates in place, some who may have been on the cards last season SA9JACK

That prompted interest from the Swans last summer, along with Southampton, but Tisdale opted to stay where he is and kept Exeter in League One after flirting with relegation.

Tagg says he is confident of keeping hold of Tisdale again this summer, but could not give any guarantees.

"I've learnt in football to never say never," he said.

"We are doing something special here and Paul is part of that. One day he will leave."

Meanwhile, one of the other favourites to land the job, Scunthorpe United manager Nigel Adkins, says he is also in the dark over speculation.

"I haven't heard anything," he said. "Someone's phoned me up and made me aware that I'm favourite for the job or something like that.

"I think I've been down this road on a couple of occasions so I just crack on and do what I'm doing at Scunthorpe United and I'm working very hard."

Ex-Bangor boss Adkins has twice led Scunthorpe to promotion to the Championship on a shoestring budget and they will begin their third season there after surviving relegation last season.

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