Wise and his assistant Ray Wilkins recently signed extensions to their current Millwall contracts to take them up to the end of next season.
Both men are well known to Bates from their time at Chelsea and, along with former Stamford Bridge boss Gianluca Vialli, have been linked with a move to rejoin him.
"We are not really concerned about it," said Millwall defender Darren Ward.
"It isn't really anything to do with us, and I certainly can't do anything about it. I'd like to think he would want to stay here, but who knows?"
However, Bates has assured Kevin Blackwell he will have his backing and that he will be judged on results.