Carlisle United boss John Sheridan tonight denied any knowledge of a link with the vacancy at his former club Chesterfield.

As his odds for the Proact Stadium job were further cut to 1/2 by SkyBet, Sheridan insisted that nobody had contacted him about the position.

Sheridan was speaking after United beat Macclesfield 2-1 to record their fourth win of the season, putting them eighth in League Two - a point outside the play-off places and just three outside the automatic positions.

Asked by BBC Radio Cumbria about his position at the front of the Chesterfield betting, Sheridan said: "I don’t know anything about it. That’s people probably associating me with Chesterfield [because I've been there before].

"I’m probably favourite for Oldham as well. Plymouth - have they still got their manager?..

"I’m here. It’s news to me. It’s people telling me or reading things. I don’t know anything about it.

"No-one’s come to me, no-one’s rang me, my agent’s not rang me. I spoke to the [Carlisle] chairman today. It's not a problem."

Reports suggest Sheridan's name is still being spoken about as a potential successor to Martin Allen at the Spireites, who are fourth bottom of the National League.

The United boss, meanwhile, said he planned to make an offer to a striker target this weekend.

Expecting to lose Ashley Nadesan when the Fleetwood man's half-season loan runs out after the New Year's Day trip to Morecambe, Sheridan said: "I need to bring in a striker. Nadders is going. I’ve identified a player and I’ll probably make him an offer this weekend.

"Hopefully something will come of it. He wants to come, that’s a plus."

Sheridan said some of United's team played through a sickness bug today, with Mike Jones also ruled out of the squad because of the illness.

"[Jamie] Devitt and Tom Parkes were sick at half-time - that’s why Dev came off," said Sheridan, who replaced the midfielder in the 77th minute.

"There's a bit of it going about. We've just got to be careful and make sure we keep them away from each other, and just be ready and see who’s fit for Morecambe."

Sheridan said talks were continuing in an attempt to secure a loan extension for in-form Yates, whose 88th-minute goal earned United victory.

The manager said both parent club Rotherham and the player himself were happy for his Blues spell to continue, with the deal now resting on finer details.

Yates' initial half-season loan is up after Tuesday's game.

Sheridan will also speak to Adam Campbell about his future, with the loanee unable to face his parent club Morecambe.

That means the forward, who came off the bench aginst Macclesfield, may have played his last game for United as his loan also runs out on January 2.

"Adam needs to play football," Sheridan said. "If I was looking at it as a player, I'd want to be playing.

"And he should be playing. He’s a good player - I’ve always liked him as a player. He’s just got one or two people in front of him who are keeping him out of the side."

Sheridan praised United's character after they came from behind against Sol Campbell's side.

Hallam Hope cancelled out Scott Wilson's second-minute opener before the break, Yates then glancing home Danny Grainger's cross in the 88th minute in front of a 4,884 crowd.

"It was a good response," Sheridan said.

"Macclesfield picked us off and it was a good little goal on their part, poor on ours.

"We shouldn’t start games like that. Most of the time you won’t come back but we responded well, scored a great goal and going in level at half-time gives you that opportunity and belief you can go on and win the game.

"We weren’t playing great. I felt we were lethargic, giving them too many chances, and they were causing us problems on the break - but you keep going and have to see those things through.

"The cross goes in and Jerry takes a chance. I don’t know how it sneaks in but he’s scored some good striker’s goals."