John Carver confident about Mike Ashley’s spending promises

John Carver says he would walk away from Newcastle United were he not convinced Mike Ashley will make a significant investment in several players this summer.

Newcastle’s head coach has been “in a very dark place” this week following last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Sunderland – the team’s fifth successive north-east derby reverse – but his sole consolation is that Ashley, the club’s owner, and Lee Charnley, the managing director, have finally realised the squad is too thin.

While injuries and suspensions contributed to an appalling performance on Sunday, Carver also acknowledged several players let down Newcastle and he is looking forward to some big changes in the summer.

“We’re already addressing it behind the scenes,” said Carver who although likely to replaced as head coach in the summer, is expected to remain at the club in a coaching capacity. “Mike and Lee know what they have to do. If I thought they were giving me lip service I would say: ‘Thanks very much, I’m off, – I’m walking away from this.’ But I’m not because I know what we have to do – and I do know that what they’re saying to me is right.

“They’ve said we need to bring players in, first of all to boost the size of the squad but also improve the quality – to take us forward. We can’t stand still because other clubs are not standing still and [Mike and Lee] know that. We have to keep up. And if we don’t we’ll get left behind – they know that. If I didn’t have enough belief in what they were trying to do and the promises they’ve made about the summer than I’d walk away.”

Although relegation remains a remote possibility – Newcastle still have only 35 points and face a tricky game at Liverpool on Monday – there is talk among fans about boycotting the subsequent home fixture against Tottenham on Sunday week but Carver has urged fans to remain behind his players, at least until safety is assured.

“The fans pay their money and they’re entitled to do whatever they want to do,” he said. “But when the fans get behind the team it’s important. Especially in the situation we’re in – we need that. We need as much help and support as we can get to drive the players over the line, to get more points on board. I still have sympathy for people who want to boycott us but I’m pleading ‘get behind the team, give us your support’ because it does make a difference. It’s an important part of the season, we’re at the business end. Against Spurs the supporters will be crucial for us.”

As a boyhood Newcastle fan, Carver understands the post-derby anger on Tyneside. “I’ve never, ever felt like this in my life,” he said. “It’s the lowest, darkest feeling I’ve ever had. Monday was one of the darkest days of my career. The fact it was five in a row makes it even harder to take. I’ll be hurting for a long time, well into the summer. I’ll be on my holidays but I’ll be thinking about it. I won’t be allowed not to think about it because when I arrive at airports I know people will be reminding me.”


By Louise Taylor / Guardian