John Carver: Latest News, Rumours and Speculation on Newcastle Future

Speculation is mounting over the future of Newcastle United manager John Carver with the club now flirting with relegation from the Premier League following eight consecutive defeats.

Continue for updates.

---

McClaren 'Never Tempted' by Newcastle Job

Wednesday, May 6

Richard Conway of the BBC reported that Derby County manager Steve McClaren was "never tempted" to take the job at Newcastle, and noted that the club would need to work to "detoxify" the position. 

McLaren had been linked with a late-season move to Newcastle, but the former England boss was first reported as not being interested in the job, per Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.

---

Carver Potentially in Jeopardy After Poor Run of Form

Monday, May 4 

Newcastle released a statement on Monday on the back of Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Leicester City, indicating that Carver will stay in charge until the end of the season, per the club's website: 

"

Following the result at Leicester City on Saturday, there has been two days of frank dialogue with John Carverand senior players. The outcome of those discussions is that the board, John Carver, his staff and players are absolutely focused on our current situation and the three hugely-important fixtures that remain this season, two of which are at St. James' Park. All parties accept responsibility for the current situation but are determined, together, to ensure this Club - your Club - retains its Premier League status. That is the only focus at this time.

"

Carver took over the top job at St. James' Park after Alan Pardew's switch to Crystal Palace, and Newcastle now sit just two points above the relegation zone with three games remaining—against West Bromwich Albion, Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United.

BBC Sport pundit Martin Keown does not believe Carver has the ability to succeed in the Premier League with Newcastle:

He certainly seems to be feeling the pressure of the situation, accusing centre-back Mike Williamson of deliberately getting himself sent off during the Leicester defeat by bringing down Jamie Vardy over the sideline, per The Guardian's Paul Doyle: "I thought he meant it. My first reaction when he was five yards away was ‘don’t do it’ and he did it. Vardy is off the pitch, Willo is off the pitch and the ball is off the pitch, there’s no need to do it. I’m not accepting that."

The Mapgies sat ninth in the Premier League and 10 points clear of relegation in December after Pardew's last game in charge, a 3-2 win over Everton.

Carver initially took over as caretaker manager before being handed the full-time job until the end of the season, and he has overseen a miserable spell of form, per Opta:

Newcastle clearly feel that the 50-year-old can do enough to avoid relegation, but with the likes of drop-rivals Leicester, Hull City and Sunderland in decent form of late, the Toon must find at least one win from somewhere.

Even if Newcastle do survive the drop, it seems highly unlikely that Carver will continue as manager past the end of the season.