Archive
Carver: 'Our Season Is Not Over'
Written by Newcastle Utd
John Carver insists United's season won't "drift away", after being appointed head coach until the end of the season
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
John Carver insists he will not allow Newcastle United's season to "drift away", after being appointed head coach until the end of the season.
The former right-hand man to Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Pardew will take charge of the Magpies for the final 16 games of the 2014/15 campaign, starting at Hull City on Saturday.
And while some critics claim Carver's promotion signals a premature end to United's season, the 50-year-old believes nothing could be further from the truth.
"I'm delighted to have got the job until the end of the season," he told nufc.co.uk.
"Everyone knows I love this Club and my goals are simple - to finish as high as we can in the Premier League and get as many points as we can.
"Everybody on the outside is talking about our season petering away but I am not going to allow that to happen.
"Those who are saying that don't know me, don't know the people around me and don't know this group of players. We're much more professional than that.
"We can't afford to let the season drift away and I won't allow it to happen. I'm too demanding and I won't allow anyone to slacken off between now and the end of May."
Carver is happy that his new role will allow him to continue spending plenty of time on the training pitch, just as he did when assistant manager.
He is also calling on the experience of coaches Steve Stone and Dave Watson, the latter of who has stepped up from looking after the Magpies' under-18 side, and hopes that the trio's hard work will soon be rewarded in the shape of Barclays Premier League victories.
"I love being on the training pitch and the role of the head coach is to be hands-on out here," said Carver.
"When you are a manager you have to manage the football club, but the role has changed and it gives me maximum time on the training ground, coaching the players.
"What I have done is given Steve (Stone) and Dave (Watson) more responsibility because they are very good at what they do, and it is important that you delegate to those who are talented.
"But when it comes to the meat of the session, it is my responsibility to prepare the team for the final 16 games.
"The players have been really positive and have responded. Even though we haven't won a game yet, I think we've played some nice stuff in spells. Ultimately though, it is about scoring goals and winning games so that needs to change.
"We've done plenty of work on that on the training pitch and hopefully that little bit of luck we need will fall our way this weekend."