Doncaster Rovers boss Dean Saunders insists they weren't close to signing Arsenal legend Robert Pires.

The 38-year-old World Cup and European Championship winner has been without a club since his summer release from Aston Villa and revealed on his Twitter account that he rejected a move to Rovers, who have adopted a bold new transfer policy in recent weeks.

Pires tweeted: "I am happy they think I can help them but it's not in my plan to play there."

But Saunders insists a deal was never on the cards.

"I never spoke to him," he said. "Someone asked him if he'd be interested and he said no, I never got round to talking to him."