Newport County have rejected Portsmouth's request to speak with manager Justin Edinburgh.
Pompey are in the market for a new boss, after Guy Whittingham was sacked last week following a run of four consecutive defeats.
The South Coast outfit were keen to interview Edinburgh regarding the managerial vacancy at Fratton Park and an official from the club contacted Newport on Monday.
A statement on Newport's official website read: "Tim Harris director of football, this morning received a phone call from a representative of Portsmouth FC seeking permission to speak to Justin Edinburgh about their vacant Managerial post.
"After discussion with Justin, the board of directors have informed Portsmouth they will not give permission to discuss their vacant managerial position."
Edinburgh, who spent three years at Portsmouth as a player between 2000 and 2003, is under contract at Newport until June 2016, having signed a two-and-a-half-year extension in October.
