Callum Davidson has turned down the chance to replace Gary Bowyer as Dundee manager more than a month after leaving St Johnstone.
Bowyer left Dens Park five days after securing promotion back to the Scottish Premiership.
Davidson, 46, was set to take charge after the talks but has now changed his mind.
The Dundee board will now look at other options, with former Hearts boss Robbie Neilson among those being considered.
Davidson spent two and a half years at McDiarmid Park, where he won the Scottish Cup and League Cup.
He continued St Johnstone through the play-offs the following season, but he left this term after a poor run left them fighting for top-flight survival again.
Dundee face a rebuilding squad as they prepare for their return to the Premiership next season, with the majority of the championship-winning team out of contract or returning to their parent clubs after loan
Neilson, 42, led Hearts to third place and the Scottish Cup final last season, but was sacked last month after a poor second half to the campaign allowed Aberdeen to overtake them in the race for third.
