ORCHARD PARK - Buffalo Bills general manager Marv Levy clarified Saturday that he's not a candidate for the vacant head-coaching job, while Jim Haslett and the team have had preliminary contact about the post.

“I want to say unequivocally that I am here to serve as the general manager/football operations,” Levy said in a statement posted on the team's Web site.

The clarification comes a day after the 80-year-old Hall of Fame coach repeatedly declined to rule himself out as a candidate to take over as head coach following Mike Mularkey's resignation.

“I regret that I was not more specific in stating that I will not be serving in a coaching capacity,” said Levy, who came out of retirement to take over as the GM after the Bills dismissed team president/general manager Tom Donahoe on Jan. 4.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson also reiterated his stand that Levy would not be a coaching candidate.

“He was hired to be the GM and would never coach the team,” Wilson said. “We are excited to have Marv as our general manager as we move forward in hiring a new coach.”

If Levy's out, add Haslett, the recently fired New Orleans coach, to the mix.

Haslett's agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Associated Press on Saturday that his client has had contact with the Bills. Schaffer wouldn't say who made the initial call, but added that no interview has yet been scheduled.