But Jewell insists the stories are nothing more than rumours, and that Whelan had not mentioned playing golf with anyone from Newcastle to him.
"There are all sorts of rumours flying around, linking different people, but i tend to take no notice of rumours because that's all they are."
He added: "I have said i would like to be the manager of a team that is challenging for the top honours, yet here i am at Wigan playing for one of the big three trophies in English football."
Reading between the lines, the Toon job is not for Jewell.
