John Carver Named Newcastle United Head Coach for Remainder of Season

Newcastle's quest to replace Alan Pardew is now set as the club announced his former assistant manager, John Carver, has been appointed as the club's full-time boss until the end of the current campaign.

Continue for updates. 

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Carver Named Newcastle Boss

Monday, Jan. 26

Newcastle announced Carver has been named the club's head coach until the end of the season. Carver released a statement following the announcement, per the club's official website:

"

This is a proud day for me.

I have worked with, and learnt from, the best manager that this football club has had in Sir Bobby Robson. I know what this Club means to this city and its people. I believe in my players and the staff I have around me.

I am confident that we can deliver exciting successful football and look forward with relish to my role as head coach of this great football club.

"

Managing director Lee Charnley also released a statement:

"

At the beginning of this process it was my desire and intention to appoint an individual to the position of head coach who would be available to start immediately.

Having now explored at some length the options available to us at this time, the decision has been taken to defer the appointment of a permanent head coach until the end of the season.

The head coach will be a long-term appointment that will play a major role in shaping the future on-field progression of Newcastle United and it is vitally important that we get the right individual.

John has a long history with the Club and has the full support of the board. Our goal for the season of a minimum top ten finish remains unchanged and we are confident that John, supported by the backroom staff, will be able to deliver this.

"

Lee Ryder of the Chronicle first reported Carver was expected to be named the club's boss:

Carver has taken on the role of caretaker manager since Pardew's departure was confirmed and, despite failing to win any of his games in charge of the Toon Army, the Newcastle board look set to give the 50-year-old the chance to prove his worth from now until end of the campaign, per Craig Hope of the Mail Online.

According to the aforementioned piece, Steve McLaren remains the club's No. 1 long-term choice.

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Sherwood Won't Be Newcastle's Manager

Thursday, Jan. 22

Tim Sherwood spoke on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show regarding the chances of him becoming the new manager at Newcastle, per talkSPORT (h/t Alex Sharp of the Daily Mail). Speaking of the Newcastle position, Sherwood said:

"

This one, for me, is not something I will be interested in.

I want to make sure the next one [managerial job] is going to be the right one. I want to be picky, I want to be picking the right one.

I am still a young manager and I think there is plenty of time for me. I don't want to rush back into the first job [offered]. I'm desperate to get back in but I'm not desperate for anything.

"

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Garde Speaks on Newcastle Links

Sunday, Jan. 18

Bleacher Report UK French football correspondent Andrew Gibney shared Garde's comments regarding links of him to Newcastle:

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Garde Hasn't Been Offered Position Despite Reported Talks

Sunday, Jan. 11

Lee Ryder of the Chronicle reported Garde has not been offered the position yet by Newcastle:

"

Newcastle United have not yet offered the head coach job to Remi Garde.

Indeed, the Chronicle understands that there are still other candidates in the frame for the position.

[...]

Garde wants to visit the training ground and check out facilities at the club’s training ground.

However, it has emerged that Newcastle have sounded out other candidates and St Etienne’s Christophe Galtier and Frank De Boer are currently in contracts meaning United must wait until the end of the season if they want either of them to succeed Alan Pardew.

"

On Jan. 9, just 24 hours after it was claimed Frank de Boer was Newcastle's top managerial target, it was  reported that ex-Lyon boss Remi Garde was the lead contender, per Ryder:

"

Newcastle United have opened talks with former Arsenal player Remi Garde about the possibility of being head coach - according to reports in France.

Magpies’ managing director Lee Charnley is the man entrusted by Mike Ashley to make the appointment and after some disastrous appointments in the past by United, he knows that the club can’t afford to get it wrong again with 27 points on the board and the club’s Premier League place not yet secure.

Garde, Christophe Galtier and Thomas Tuchel are three of the leading candidates for the job but the ex-Lyon boss is thought to be keen on the job.

"

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De Boer Tops List

Thursday, Jan. 8

Newcastle are prepared to be patient in order to land their top target, according to Dave Kidd of the Daily Mirror:

"

Frank de Boer is Newcastle’s top target to take over as head coach – in a bold new approach from owner Mike Ashley.

The Ajax boss, 44, is seen by the Toon hierarchy as a master tactician who can take the club to new levels following Alan Pardew’s departure to Crystal Palace.

Newcastle are likely to leave caretaker boss John Carver in charge for the rest of the current campaign – as revealed by Daily Mirror Sport last week.

They know de Boer will not renege on his Ajax contract mid-season, but they have put him at the top of a five-man shortlist and are willing to wait until summer.

"

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Hoddle Interested, McClaren Ruled Out

Monday, Jan. 5

Lee Ryder of the Chronicle reports Hoddle is one of the candidates for Newcastle's vacant post:

"

The Chronicle understands that Hoddle is on the club’s radar and is interested in the job.

Hoddle has a good rapport with chief scout Graham Carr and would be receptive to the club’s vision of a head coach model.

"

John Cross of the Mirror reports Real Madrid No. 2 Paul Clement is also an option, but Derby have ruled out Steve McClaren. Laurie Whitwell and Rob Draper of the Daily Mail provide quotes from Derby chief executive Sam Rush:

"

Steve and I caught up after the Southport game, as we do after all games. We had a chat about the speculation and after our chat I thought it was sensible just to confirm that Steve McClaren is going absolutely nowhere. 

"

Meanwhile, Steph Clark of the Northern Echo outlines a Newcastle shortlist, including the names of Remi Garde and Christophe Galtier.

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Carver Wants to be Considered Candidate

Saturday, Jan. 3

The Chronicle's Lee Ryder provides an update on Newcastle's search for a manager:

Ryder added more from Carver:

"

Carver was without injured senior players like Fabricio Coloccini, Moussa Sissoko and Jack Colback in the third round tie but despite the disappointment he said after the game: “I would be a fool if I didn’t want the job. Deep down I was always thinking that.

“Results dictate what happens but I don’t feel any different. I still want to be head coach.

“I have put my hat in the ring. I have told the players that.

“I didn’t make it public, I told the players that on the first morning because I didn’t want them to think anything else. Now I am making it public.”

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Carver talked about what was required, per Ryder:

"

He said: “The position is now not for a manager - it’s a head coach job. So head coach is to get the team up and ready for the next game. That’s all I have been thinking about.”

It means that Carver would not be involved in transfers or recruitment but it’s a position he is confident of carrying out.

He said: “There’s no need for me to be in touch with the owner. None whatsoever, because that’s the line the club are going to go down.

“When I was in Toronto I was head coach. I had a director of football.

“I never got involved in any transfer dealings or players in or out. My job was to look after the team and get prepared.

“I have not spoken to Mike. My only communication has been with Lee Charnley.

“We spoke on Monday night. We had a short conversation on Friday about the game.

"

Carver is the current caretaker manager of the Magpies, and a lifelong Toon supporter, according to the Daily Mail's Craig Hope. His tenure as manager has been unremarkable thus far, however, with the Magpies drawing 3-3 with Burnley on New Year's Day, and losing 1-0 in the third round of the FA Cup to Leicester City on Saturday. 

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Bruce Rules Himself Out of Newcastle Job

Thursday, Jan. 1

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has ruled himself out of the running for the Newcastle United job, insisting he is fully focused on his future at the KC Stadium, per Richard Sutcliffe of the Yorkshire Post:

The Tigers—currently 17th in the Premier League table—are gearing up for a critical clash with Everton on New Year’s Day, and the 54-year-old has reaffirmed his intentions to steer the team out of their current predicament, per Philip Buckingham of the Hull Daily Mail:

The race to replace Alan Pardew in the Magpies hot seat has churned out a host of speculated candidates for the job, but as of yet, no hot favourite had emerged at the time.

Former boss Glenn Roeder thinks the Toon Army should be looking at illustrious names, per Stan Collymore of talkSPORT:

It’ll be a tough task to replace Pardew in the north east. Despite his misdemeanours—of which there were many—he recruited players well, regularly steered Newcastle away from the drop zone and played a dynamic brand of football.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

With that in mind, it’ll be intriguing to see which way owner Mike Ashley turns in his pursuit of a new boss, and while Klopp may be beyond the reach of Newcastle, there’s absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t show plenty of ambition when making their move.